It has been
brought to my attention that the word “psychopath” has been erased from the
psychiatric lexicon — for reasons of purity of thought and language, not just
professional standards. So I’ll avoid the term too. This column will use the
new phrase: antisocial personality disorder.
It’s less
than two months until the March 17 election — time is short and indecision
great. Too many registered voters are floating in the dark and looking for
enlightenment — from where will their salvation come?
This column
receives many requests for advice; we want to get to know the leading
candidates up close, without the heavy makeup or Photoshop. We want to take a
piercing look inside, one that delves into the heart and soul. Is that
possible?
Here is where
the latest edition of the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, comes to our
aid, supported by the International Classification of Diseases, maintained
by the World Health Organization. Both list the symptoms characterizing that
mental illness which until recently was “psychopathy” or sociopathy.” Could the
various Knesset slates be housing people who should be receiving treatment?
How will we
know if we don’t duly examine them? We can only regret that the experts have
left this examination to ordinary people like us. This isn’t the first time
this column has taken on a public-service mission that others have shunned.
They use their ethical-shmethical excuses and along the way shirk their
professional duty.
Not all the
characteristics have to exist in a patient; only three are needed to diagnose
that previously mentioned disorder:
1. Apathy to
the feelings of others or a lack of emotional intelligence. 2. Disregard of
accepted values and customary social norms. 3. A lack of stability in personal
relationships, friendship and loyalty based on utilitarian considerations. 4.
Compulsive suspicion and a feeling of persecution. 5. Envy and childish
jealousy for the successes of others.
6. Regular
frustration and a low threshold for aggression. 7. An inability to profit from
experience or feel guilt. 8. A tendency to shirk responsibility and a readiness
to pass on blame. 9. Repeated lying for the purpose of immediate gratification,
confusing reality and imagination. 10. Difficulty in meeting financial
commitments, generously making promises and rarely keeping them. 11.
Superiority complex — myself and no one else — since I have no replacement.
Do three or
more characteristics remind you of anybody?
The trouble
is that antisocial personality disorder isn’t always treated. Victims deny it,
refuse to ask for help and reject all attempts to improve their situation. And
when it’s a case of politicians battling mental illness, we must never mention
treatment lest we slander the mighty who will lead us in madness.
In such
cases, there’s no chance for the patient to respond or cooperate. That’s how
principles are switched and roles confused, and instead of the people being
supported and encouraged by their elected representatives, the people pay the
price every day for the occupational therapy.
This writer
isn’t a doctor, and this column doesn’t claim to be scientific. Anyone who
relies on it does so at his own risk. At most, it can serve as an aid on the
way to the voting booth. Compare the symptoms with the faces; who it seems
you’re seeing.
read more:
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.638529
Haaretz (Hebrew: הארץ) (lit.
"The Land [of Israel]", originally Ḥadashot Ha'aretz – Hebrew: חדשות
הארץ, IPA: [χadaˈʃot haˈʔaʁets] – "News [of] the Land [of Israel]"[3]) is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in
both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and
sold together with theInternational New York Times. Both
Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet. In North America, it
comes out as a weekly newspaper, combining articles from the Friday edition with
a roundup from the rest of the week. It is known for its staunch left-wing and liberal stances on domestic and foreign issues.
Yossi
Sarid (Hebrew: יֹוסֶף
"יֹוסִי" שָׂרִיד, born 24 October 1940)
is an Israeli news commentator and former politician. He served as a member of
the Knesset for the Alignment, Ratz and Meretz between 1974 and 2006. A former
Minister of Education and Minister of the Environment, he led Meretz between
1996 and 2003 and served as Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003.
Yosef (Yossi) Sarid was born in Rehovot, Sarid served in the
Artillery Corps and as a Military Correspondent during his national service in
the IDF. He holds an MA in political science from New School for Social
Research in New York. He is a former resident of Margaliyot in the Upper Galilee.[1]
Sarid is married to Dorit, with whom he has three children.
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