Seriously, is Karl Rove a Sociopath?

[mondo joe]

Sociopathy is chiefly characterized by something wrong with the person's conscience. They either don't have one, it's full of holes like Swiss cheese, or they are somehow able to completely neutralize or negate any sense of conscience or future time perspective.

Sociopaths only care about fulfilling their own needs and desires - selfishness and egocentricity to the extreme. Everything and everybody else is mentally twisted around in their minds as objects to be used in fulfilling their own needs and desires. They often believe they are doing something good for society, or at least nothing that bad.

The term "sociopath" is frequently used by psychologists and sociologists alike in referring to persons whose unsocialized character is due primarily to parental failures (usually fatherlessness)rather than an inherent feature of temperament. Lykken (1995), for example, clearly distinguishes between the sociopath (who is socialized into becoming a psychopath) and a "true" psychopath (who is born that way). However, this may only describe the "common sociopath", as there are at least four (4) different subtypes -- common, alienated, aggressive, and dyssocial. Commons are characterized mostly by their lack of conscience; the alienated by their inability to love or be loved; aggressives by a consistent sadistic streak; and dyssocials by an ability to abide by gang rules, as long as those rules are the wrong rules. Some common sociopathic traits include:

List of Common Sociopathic Traits
Egocentricity; Callousness; Impulsivity; Conscience defect; Exaggerated sexuality; Excessive boasting; Risk taking; Inability to resist temptation; Antagonistic, deprecating attitude toward the opposite sex; Lack of interest in bonding with a mate.

Source: http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/428/428lect16.htm


We know he had a dismal childhood. His largely absent father walked out for good on Christmas Eve, 1969, the day before Karl's 19th birthday. This was clearly not a happy home where one might learn empathy or even compassion.

According to Bush's Brain, Wayne Slater and James Moore's biography, Rove was left hungering for permanence, legitimacy, and authority.

Was Rove trained to be the monster he is today?

[neuvocat]

1. That sort of mentality doesn't grow in a vacuum.

It had to start in childhood somewhere.

[LaurenG]

2. He was born that way

They just took the raw material and sculpted it into a steaming pile of neoconservative Bushit. So to answer your question yes. IMHO

[Wetzelbill]

3. He's also ultra competitive and believes the ends justify the means

He doesn't care how he wins, as long as he wins.

[Southsideirish]

4. I care not one whit about its childhood. Yes, it is a monster.

[mondo joe]

10. I'm not trying to understand why - but is he a real clinical socopath?

I think so - far more than just an asshole.

[area51]

11. "... but is he a real clinical sociopath?"

I think Rove is a true, clinical sociopath.

[Jade Fox]

5. There is definitely something very wrong with him....

wether or not he can be labled a sociopath.

[imenja]

6. his mother committed suicide

yeah, he's a sociopath

[jedr]

7. "List of common sociopathic traits"

with the exception of the sexuality part; Sounds like a check list to be a good republican.

[Nevernose]

13. Do you know of a group more obsessed with sex than Republicans?

n/t

[rooboy]

8. I believe there's an ancient scroll somewhere that foretells of Karl Rove.

He is too evil for couch psychiatry.

[Mandate My Ass]

9. My guess, alienated. He is a source of GWB's narcissitic supply

If he were a true sociopath he could not function as a second fiddle or the power behind the throne.

He knows what his limits are, he doesn't want to be the front man, and he knows how to suck up to power. His consistent use of and reliability on the smear tactic suggests he is someone who is lashing out over and over against a past nemesis. I think he has a conscience, which he ignores, and I believe he has an ability to abide by the rules but he consistently ignores and flouts them because it serves to give him a sense of "payback" for real and imagined slights.

[Dover]

12. Sociopath is a skill set required to thrive in the corporate culture

Don't you recall the tapes of the phone calls by the Enron employees who gleefully poked fun at those who were suffering from the California energy crisis?

Consider that many of the corporate elite did and still DO support Bushco. In fact, many are employed by the cabal and have created a corporate culture inside the White House. They write our policy!
Rove is just one of their minions. There are many more where he came from in corporate America, conservative think tanks, and government.

Many corporations value the sociopath's 'qualities' and lack of empathy. It's just bidness......

[EC]

14. He was a REPUBLICAN at 10.... n/t

[greenman3610]

15. just like you damn liberals

trying to get therapy for the evil monsters.

they need to be killed.

[PowerToThePeople]

16. I agree. n/t

[scarletwoman]

17. Yep. And I know the PERFECT therapy for Rove -- a lobotomy!

Being a liberal, I'm against killing, ya know. :evilgrin:

[burrowowl]

18. The WHOLE Maladministration

including former member Colon Bowel are sociopaths!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Psychiatric evaluations should be given to high level government employees

especially after this administration. I don't think it's sufficient to just determine that they are physically healthy. If they are mentally deranged or brain damaged, the American people should know. In fact, it should be a requirement to run for high office.

[wli]

20. obviously yes