Is Armstrong a psychopath?

[benlondon]

Struck by an article in last week's Guardian which listed the traits of a psychopth. Armstrong seems to tick a lot of the boxes! I've added yes's or ? where I don't know the answer.

Item 1 Glibness/superficial charm = yes

Item 2 Grandiose sense of self-worth = yes

Item 3 Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom = yes

Item 4 Pathological lying = yes

Item 5 Cunning/manipulative = yes

Item 6 Lack of remorse or guilt = yes

Item 7 Shallow affect = not sure what this means??

Item 8 Callous/lack of empathy = ?

Item 9 Parasitic lifestyle = yes

Item 10 Poor behavioural controls = probably no

Item 11 Promiscuous sexual behaviour = yes

Item 12 Early behaviour problems = ?

Item 13 Lack of realistic long-term goals = ?

Item 14 Impulsivity = ?

Item 15 Irresponsibility = ?

Item 16 Failure to accept responsibility for own actions = yes

Item 17 Many short-term marital relationships = yes

Item 18 Juvenile delinquency = ?

Item 19 Revocation of conditional release = ?

Item 20 Criminal versatility = yes

 

[Merckx index]

This is the Hare check list, I believe. I think one commonly rates people on each trait from 0-2, and a total score of 30 is considered evidence of psychopathy.

It needs to be emphasized that there is a recent trend towards recognizing the condition as fairly widespread, by no means confined to a few very rare criminal types. See, e.g., the book The Sociopath Next Door.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Yes of course!

Item 8: A BIG Y E S

 

[bammer]

The vendettas and vindictiveness of some people on here are funny and sad. I troll these threads and am amazed at the hate people spew. Whether the criticism and accusations are warranted or not, some people need to spend more time on their bike and less time posting inane threads.

 

[cineteq]

He's rather a sociopath

 

[zigmeister]

Psychopath? No even close.

If he is anything, he could be a sociopath. But then again, many high level athletes have huge egos and seemed self-consumed.

If I were Tiger Woods, Lebron James, LA...I would have a huge ego too....jealous...I think most people are and envy these people.

 

[D-Queued]

He's rather a sociopath

Psycopathy and sociopathy are now both incorporated as "Anti-social Personality Disorder". Somewhat less inflammatory.

As Sociopath, yes, scored as 31.

For self-described, early behavioral problems - read 'It's not about the bike'.

For impulsivity & behavioral controls, see water usage, Twitter, ask TexPat, etc. For parasitic lifestyle, ask TexPat.

Dave.

 

[Polish]

Betsy has called him a "sociopath" on a few occasions.

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[saganftw]

according to OP im psycopath too...and i know where u all live

 

[Zweistein]

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[VeloFidelis]

He's rather a sociopath

You are both accurate and correct.

 

[Benotti69]

The vendettas and vindictiveness of some people on here are funny and sad. I troll these threads and am amazed at the hate people spew. Whether the criticism and accusations are warranted or not, some people need to spend more time on their bike and less time posting inane threads.

this response to a Armstrong thread has been repeated ad nauseum. sounds like something out public stratalies

1st post and it is telling people to stop posting about armstrong and get on their bike.

your are a canidate for professional trolling.

 

[corvus]

this is so wrong for the mods to let stand. I have lost all faith in the admins of CN forum. It has been clear for some time how anti lance the mods and admin are but allowing this just sets a new low and I for one willl stop visiting the site cause of it. You people need to wait until you actually have facts. And no you don't have them as of yet despite what you claim or think. It is too bad that you have allowed this to go to this gutter.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

this is so wrong for the mods to let stand. I have lost all faith in the admins of CN forum. It has been clear for some time how anti lance the mods and admin are but allowing this just sets a new low and I for one willl stop visiting the site cause of it. You people need to wait until you actually have facts. And no you don't have them as of yet despite what you claim or think. It is too bad that you have allowed this to go to this gutter.

 

[flicker]

The vendettas and vindictiveness of some people on here are funny and sad. I troll these threads and am amazed at the hate people spew. Whether the criticism and accusations are warranted or not, some people need to spend more time on their bike and less time posting inane threads.

+1 Someday they will realize his true greatness though. *** edited by mod ****

 

[bammer]

this response to a Armstrong thread has been repeated ad nauseum. sounds like something out public stratalies

1st post and it is telling people to stop posting about armstrong and get on their bike.

your are a canidate for professional trolling.

3,095 posts in a year...You need something else to do.

My point is that people bash everything Armstrong et al, even to the point of categorizing him as a psychopath.

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[Polish]

I would like to think that Lance is a National Treasure.
He has a bike and a jersey in the Smithsonian I believe.
Should be a LiveStrong Bracelet in there too imo.

 

[skippythepinhead]

this is so wrong for the mods to let stand. I have lost all faith in the admins of CN forum. It has been clear for some time how anti lance the mods and admin are but allowing this just sets a new low and I for one willl stop visiting the site cause of it. You people need to wait until you actually have facts. And no you don't have them as of yet despite what you claim or think. It is too bad that you have allowed this to go to this gutter.

What does it mean to be "anti-Lance"?

Does it mean to be against cheating and lying about it so much that you're willing to see a hero to millions go down to the truth that's surrounded his aura of invincibility for so long and is finally being heard by the ones with the power to change? Does being "anti-Lance" mean finally Finally FINALLY doing something to maggot out the rot of the governing bodies of cycling who enabled this person (whether DSM diagnosable or not) to wear the Emperor's Maillot Jaune for far too long and in the face of all logic?

If that is even a small part of being anti-Lance, sign me the eff up.

That it is also a fascinating psychogical case study does not change the case's overall import.

 

[skippythepinhead]

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[D-Queued]

3,095 posts in a year...You need something else to do.

My point is that people bash everything Armstrong et al, even to the point of categorizing him as a psychopath.

BTW: ad nauseam, stratalies (not quite sure), you are or you're, and candidate.

Coming from someone with two posts, you have not demonstrated the expertise to offer such advice.

This is pure baiting. The subject of Lance being a sociopath is not new.

If the glove fits, you cannot acquit.

Dave.

 

[saganftw]

What does it mean to be "anti-Lance"?

Does it mean to be against cheating and lying about it so much that you're willing to see a hero to millions go down to the truth that's surrounded his aura of invincibility for so long and is finally being heard by the ones with the power to change? Does being "anti-Lance" mean finally Finally FINALLY doing something to maggot out the rot of the governing bodies of cycling who enabled this person (whether DSM diagnosable or not) to wear the Emperor's Maillot Jaune for far too long and in the face of all logic?

If that is even a small part of being anti-Lance, sign me the eff up.

That it is also a fascinating psychogical case study does not change the case's overall import.

i think antilance means that in your mind LA is already in jail,you dont need closed case,you just know that he has done everything u read or everything that has been said by hamilton,andreu,his wife,other ppl i dont even remember

and if someone has different opinion what u do? u start to ridicule the poster as you showed in your next post

while i believe LA took PED (like the majority of peloton in last 20 years) i am nowhere near to accept automaticaly that everything i read in newspapers is true because it fits my case,also it would never occured to me to start threads like is LA psycopath or campaign against his sponsors...WTF is that? it sooooo way out of proportion

the best part ofc is that while many ppl pingpong their own theories about LA which being theories are probably nowhere near truth,in the same time those ppl are fans of other sports star that are guilty of same "crimes" as LA

when first accusations came from various sources i didnt believe it,then with landis etc. i began to think theres something wrong and LA should be punished (like other dopers)...but the more i read stupid haters not only on this forum who are taking it too far the more i want the investigation to be closed with no evidence of wrongdoin...that day i will laugh my a55 off

 

[Horizon Deep]

Anyone who suffers from massive delusions and who lives in such total denial the way Juan Pelota does needs strict medical help at the very least!!!

 

[Boeing]

damn looks like I am part psychopath

 

[Mambo95]

i think antilance means that in your mind LA is already in jail,you dont need closed case,you just know that he has done everything u read or everything that has been said by hamilton,andreu,his wife,other ppl i dont even remember

and if someone has different opinion what u do? u start to ridicule the poster as you showed in your next post

while i believe LA took PED (like the majority of peloton in last 20 years) i am nowhere near to accept automaticaly that everything i read in newspapers is true because it fits my case,also it would never occured to me to start threads like is LA psycopath or campaign against his sponsors...WTF is that? it sooooo way out of proportion

the best part ofc is that while many ppl pingpong their own theories about LA which being theories are probably nowhere near truth,in the same time those ppl are fans of other sports star that are guilty of same "crimes" as LA

when first accusations came from various sources i didnt believe it,then with landis etc. i began to think theres something wrong and LA should be punished (like other dopers)...but the more i read stupid haters not only on this forum who are taking it too far the more i want the investigation to be closed with no evidence of wrongdoin...that day i will laugh my a55 off

That's pretty much sums it up for me too.


As to the OP's point.

Is LA a psychopath? No
Is LA a sociopath? No
Can the Hare questions be interpreted by someone who has no idea what they are talking about to show that he is both? Absolutely.

 

[D-Queued]

That's pretty much sums it up for me too.


As to the OP's point.

Is LA a psychopath? No
Is LA a sociopath? No
Can the Hare questions be interpreted by someone who has no idea what they are talking about to show that he is both? Absolutely.

And vice versa?

They apparently can also be dismissed by someone that has no idea what they are talking about.

Dave.