This post will not make sense without the context provided in the previous post.
Thomas’ words regarding the hope of redemption for the psychopath upset me greatly. Maybe I am looking too deeply into her words, but the meaning seems to be clear: only through assimilation can the psychopath be accepted as part of the human condition. I believe that restraint toward overtly antisocial behavior is key for surviving in a (relatively) prosocial society and I do not believe in multiculturalism, but I also believe that the psychopath is worthy to stand on his two feet as he is. It is the responsibility of those opposed to him to get out of the way, not for the psychopath to change his core self to adapt to society. Curbing antisocial behavior does not imply that one cannot be true to themselves. “Curing” their behavior in full and disavowing the neurological differences that he possesses destroys all hope of an authentic life.
The argument reminds me of the plight faced by intersexed children. The authority – doctors in this case – proclaim that they are doing the social good as well as doing good by the child, by enforcing an approximation of a given sex via genital surgery. Children with ambiguous genitalia are mutilated so that they approximate either true male or true female. They are not given the choice to make their own choice in life. These children are not allowed to seek authenticity; it is mandated for them. Thomas seems to be arguing for similar logic: that the responsibility of the psychopath is to fall in line with society via normalization of their traits. Rather than approximating normal, it is the goal of the psychopath to become normal it seems.
We do not need to apologize for who we are. Much like current theories regarding the homosexual, our fate was decided from birth. We should embrace what little individuality that we have and embrace our cold ways. We can put away our knives and our fists, but we need not be apologetic for our lack of empathy. If we wish to define goals, reduce our impulsivity, and learn to walk on our own two feet rather than sucking dry those around us, that should be our choice – not society’s mandate. Society has a vested interest to keep the violent among us in jail, but society has no legitimate claim to our minds.
The endgame for the psychopath should not have to rely on seeking a cure. Our prosocial behaviors may be a function of our masks, but our desire to better ourselves is our claim alone. Our success should not be measured by metrics judging whether we have descended into something we are not. Our lives should not be spend contorting our minds to fit the slotted entrances dictated by society. For a group that has so little self-identity, forsaking it for the identity of another should be considered anathema.
If poison is the cure, I’ll take a bullet to the skull.