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Self-Proclaimed Psychopath Shares How She Lives Her Life
M.E. Thomas, a lawyer in California, has two pieces of advice for non-psychopaths. First, they must let go of everyone else's opinions, and second, they should stop identifying with things they can't control.
This has given her two key advantages that will help her succeed in her career: She doesn't worry about gendered standards and doesn't mind asking dumb questions because they don't damage her ego.
Thomas said in a Business Insider op-ed that she doesn't take on the feelings or behaviors of others. She cautioned that "people can become so wrapped up in taking offense or taking things personally that they're not part of."
Thomas advised non-psychopaths that if they don't associate with events that are beyond their control, their lives will be much better and more satisfying. He gave examples of world politics and sports rivalry to illustrate his points.
More than that, though, the native of California cautioned that it's critical to let go of any worries about what other people may think of you.
"If you're doing something because of what it looks like to others, that's not a good reason to do it," she added.
She dropped her book "Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight" in 2014. Two years later, in 2015, she appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil. During her guesting, she explained that she had carefully constructed her personality over the years, and many still thought she was from abroad because she spoke with a slight accent.
Thomas disclosed that immediately after her book was published, she lost her job as a law professor at St. Mary's University because her bosses thought she posed a risk to the students.
Thomas wrote that he disapproved of her termination. According to her, her being a psychopath gives her an advantage in law and business.
Although Thomas claims she "is not a killer," she wrote of an incident in her book where a city employee reprimanded her for using an escalator that was off-limits, and she followed him as he left.
Thomas stopped following the man when he was out of sight, but there was a "metallic" taste in her tongue as she entertained murderous fantasies about him. She was sure that she would not kill him, but she was also sure she would have assaulted him.
In her op-ed, Thomas described herself as a "female psychopath." However, unlike in her book, she said that she doesn't have violent tendencies and is more prone to playing mental games.
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What Is a Psychopath?
A psychopath in psychiatry refers to a person with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), according to Dr. Prakash Masand, a psychiatrist and co-founder of the Centers for Psychiatric Excellence.
Psychopath is not an official diagnosis nor listed as an official clinical diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). However, some sources said psychopathy is considered a mental disorder. It is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by inadequate emotional reactions, a lack of empathy, and poor behavioral control, which frequently leads to chronic antisocial behavior and criminal activity. Others considered psychopathy a personality disorder.
Signs of psychopathy include a lack of empathy and remorse, an inability to distinguish right and wrong, manipulating or hurting others, disregard for safety and responsibility, and behavior that conflicts with social norms.
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