Why is Casey Anthony so coldhearted and cavalier about her missing daughter Caylee?
Casey Anthony has finally been indicted for the first-degree murder of her daughter, Caylee Anthony. Casey is a sociopathic, superficial sensationalist. To a mental health professional, she fits the description of someone with an antisocial personality disorder - just a fancy name for "sociopath."…
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926 - ChrissyPH
Im actually a little offended you placed 'bisexuals' and sociopaths in the same article and linked them.. a little homophobic dont you think? Im pretty sure i know plenty more 'straight' sociopaths who are married and abuse everyone in their families then 'bi' sociopaths, the issue is people in family units like that never speak up about the abuse they suffered never realizing what the issue with their 'disgruntled, hurtful and lying' loved one was.
927 - Barb
No OCM, I just love who you are everyday. And it is just uncanny how you have me allll figured out. Especially the part of me telling my "entire" life story for "sympathy." Nevermind that this blog is about sociopaths and my experience goes right along with the topic. I also find it amusing how you dish it out but can't take it. You accuse me of talking ramdomly about nothing, but you are doing the exact same thing in your efforts to try and burn me. But I won't fault you. I just think whatever trip you're taking someone just needs to adjust the cabin pressure.
928 - cathy
TRESA .... GET YOUR DAUGHTER HELP NOW . HIRE A LAWER TO BECOME YOUR DAUGHTERS POWER OF ATTORNY . THIS WAY YOU CAN MANDATE HER INTO A HOSPITAL AND CONSELING . YOU WANT A LEGAL MEDICAL RIGHT TO HER WELL BEING . BEG OR BOWER FROM SOMEONE TO HELP YOU GET LAWER IF YOU NEED MONEY
929 - cathy
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF TRESA IS STILL POSTING HERE , PLEASE HAVE HER SEE MY POST ON AUGUST 6TH AT756 AM #928 , SHE POSTED A COMMENT FOR HELP ON OCTOBER 20TH AT 12.11 AM # 2 THANKS CATHY
930 - Julianne
Hi--
Don't confuse me, I'm not a doctor. The similar name is not a typo, just a coincidence!
I'm responding to a question/comment elsewhere on the board regarding the differences between the typical behaviors of a person with ASPD and those of someone with DID.
I understand the diagnositic criterium as it is contrasted clearly in the reply. I am also somewhat more familiar with DID signs and symptoms, but I am not disputing any of the information as it is presented.
However, I would like to add some more demension to those contrasting descriptions.
Again, I am NOT a psychologist. I come to the table educated as a counselor with experience in trauma therapy, PTSD, and DID. I am also personally, closely acquainted with more than one person affected by one or both of those trauma disorders.
In addition to the DSM IV-TR definitions, and the myriad clinical research on these topics, it is important to consider these conditions within a broader context in order to truly distinguish dissociation from antisocial personality tendencies.
A person with Dissociative Identity Disorder does not necessarily have the same traits and tendencies as does the person who has ASPD.
These are two distinct types of mental disorders. One of the reasons why dissociative disorders are no longer called "Multipe PERSONALITY Disorder" is that DID is NOT a personality disorder. It is not the result of a fundamental defect/deficit/"missing link" in the core sense of self.
It's been very well and very clearly established here that someone who has antisocial PERSONALITY disorder does in fact lack something enduring and significant in basic character development, like the capacity for empathy/remorse.
By contrast, the halmark of DISSOCIATIVE identity disorder is the dysfunctional degree and nature of using DISSOCIATION as a psychological coping mechanism.
While it is true that dissociation profoundly AFFECTS the personality of those with DID, people who dissociate to this great extreme do NOT neccesarily or automatically lack the fundamentals those with ASPD uniformly do.
It is NOT impossible, nor unheard of that a person with DID CAN have ASPD comorbidly, but in my experience ( Again, I am NOT a psychologist, but I DO have a lot of relevant experience) this is not common or likely.
First, using the word "personalities" to describe the fragmented self states patients develop is misleading.
I'm not quibbling with the professional(s) here. I'm using what I believe is more precise language.
I prefer words like, "self state," or "part."
A visual: A car windshield is hit by a rock. It's cracked. It's fragmented. But it is still one piece of glass.
The person with DID does have a unified essence. But the cracks have fragmented that "whole" so that each tiny piece of glass is its own little section.
Individual pieces are NOT each a whole self. In and of itself, that section of the mind is NOT a personality.
It's a fragment. It's a part of the mind that experiences only its particular element of the person's whole psychological experience.
One reason people fragment like this is that childhood trauma can evoke (unwarranted), extremely intense guilt. For instance, a child who experiences sexual abuse might feel unbearable guilt, from within, or without when an abuser blames him/her.
The guilt is so intense as to be intolerable, so the victim dissociates it. That feeling might be contained in a fragment, and because the glass is cracked, it can be separated from emotional experience, at least when it is not conducive to safety and effective functioning.
I qualify--NOT true in ALL cases, but extremely common. The victim more than likely DOES have remorse, unlike someone with ASPD.
Dissociation happens when a child is overwhelmed with emotion. The person with ASPD feels little or no emotion. DID helps people cope with INTENSITY - which bears out the fact that they CAN INDEED feel sadness, anger, guilt, fear, etc.
In fact many victims who develop DID dissociate their anger, negative feelings, and fear so that they CAN love and connect with a perpetrator, even when he/she who terrorizes them.
This is the unbearable bind of loving/fearing/hating the caregiver/abuser. They often become EXTREMELY attuned to the feelings of others in attempts to predict perpetrator behavior and meet THE ABUSER'S needs.
This does not preclude a person with a dissociative disorder from having sociopathic BEHAVIORS at some times.
If one's BEHAVIOR is sociopathic, he/she has DONE something without concern for how that particular act has affected or harmed another person. He/she doesn't feel guilt. He just hopes no one catches him.
But he doesn't lack the CAPACITY to perceive himself, others, or his environment differently. He can empathize, feel remorse, and see beyond his selfish wishes. He chooses not to draw upon those skills.
People with DID are ocassionally as prone to this kind of "low road" choice as I am, or as anyone is. Their insight, impulse control, knowledge-base, and coping ability might vary depending upon the condition of a particular self-state.
But they are entirely responsible for all of their behaviors, regardless of the self-states involved.
A key goal is facilitating communication where there are barriers between parts. From there, they learn to teach themselves and all parts to modify destructive behavior.
This is grueling work, but I have seen dozens of people with DID initiate it and stick with it long-term, until they saw the changes THEY desired.
It has been established that the individual with ASPD goes to therapy when compelled, or when there is some secondary profit for him/her.
Finally, the media-generated association between violent crime and people with Dissociative Identity Disorder is unsubstantiated.
Clinical/research statistics indicate that people with mental illness are more likely to be crime victims than perpetrators. And by definition, those with trauma disorders have suffered prolonged, severe abuse by adulthood.
The drama of claiming a DID defense for murder is cliche and nauseating. It's abhorent that a person with ASPD would masquerade as someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Killers who falsely claim to be DID patients are victimizing and stigmatizing clients like mine again.
931 - One Confused Mom
It took you this long to respond?
1)"Personal life story" does not equal "entire" life story, misread, completely different meanings.
#2) I don't claim to have you figured out, I don't know you, I am simply noting a pattern.
#3) I have never accused you of randomly talking about nothing. I simply disagree that you are a victim of someone else's doing for the one reason that loaning a credit card to an adult with bad or no credit is a calculated risk.
#4) I am not trying to burn anyone, I simply don't think you are deserving of simply rather you should be accountable for your own problems like all adults taking calculated risks.
Wow, you are right, I must be so stupid and have a big butt, no education and low cabin pressure. You are so nice and superior.
Peace and love
When did you last blog about the CA case? (Other than relating it straight into your personal experience with the credit card incident?)
932 - Barb
OCM, you are definitely confused. You incite arguments, insult people then can't take it when they dish it back out to you. You cannot get your facts straight, you are extremely unself aware, and frankly ramble. I tried to post my personal email account in here so we took "take this outside" so you could really hear what I have to say to, but the bottom line is friggin' butt out. You have no idea or the facts of what I have been through that are directly tied with sociopathic behavior and NOT to gain sympathy, you have no comment except to mock me, and I've had enough of your rants. Practice what you preach. Comment on CA as you say I have not, which is my choice and jump on another band wagon. You must be really, really bored.
933 - KDNOLA
She Danced, Drank, Partied, had sex, cooked, shopped with stolen checks fm her best friend for 31 days, with
A. a dead baby in her trunk
B. a missing child
and not mention this to anyone?
She lied about where Caylee was when people asked for her during the 31 days she was missing.
Casey Anthony is sick, but her family is even sicker obstructing justice for the murder of America's Lil Sunshine...Caylee Marie. What is wrong with our people?
934 - One Confused Mom
I don't want your personal e-mail account! The only argument I have had is with you and anyone who has a "burn her at the stake and her parents too" murderer mentality theirselves, Gina? But always Barb likes to align herself with this army of imaginary people supporting her opinion when in fact you are a blogger of 1, in a room of strangers so you can't speak for everyone, especially those you don't know, or think you know. I am not mocking you, what offends you seems to be my pointing out your nasty comments and insults like you actually knew me or what I looked like, kind of a mirror you don't like to look in. The thing is, I don't care if you don't like me so your snarl and retrieve style doesn't matter, typed words. Yes, this is much off topic and I do check in when I am bored just to respond to you, guilty.
When have I ever insulted you? Barb, look in that mirror again! I disagree with your premise - in your mind this is an insult apparently. conclusion anyone? bueller? anyone?
Curious - are you a smoker?
Was CA a smoker?
935 - graciela gutierrez MA
I have been reading your comments, but is not so important to know a diagnosis but to know how she get there, to become such an ill person, where were those parents, when she started to drink, she was crying for help and nobody listen to her, well just do a lot of questions better than make staments,
936 - One Confused Mom
(What are you dishing back by the way? I really like that you take credit for doing all these things but am never sure what they are - can you point out when you dished something to me exactly?)
I am "unself aware"!! (English? - Perhaps some of your higher education is having an off week....)
I think I am bleeding from that one, yep, straight through the heart, oh gad, gasp gasp, I can't, I can't, I can't, oh gad, I am rambling (in English) rambling, can anyone hear me, I'm hit.....
I wonder why Casey Anthony's mother didn't observe her credit card bills increasing month after month?
937 - lisab
well said,everything articulated is what i feel.well done for saying it as it is!
938 - marna
This case has caught my complete attention from the start due to it's crazy twists and turns. I divorced a sociopath because I could no longer take the abuse on the children and I was finding as the years went by I was questioning my own perception of reality, that is what a sociopath effectively makes you do. It is 8 years ago now and I am still getting payback from my ex husband and my children are convinced that I am the one in the wrong (noting that he buys them things continuously for their support).I am told that the boys now fight back and punch him.
I hope and pray that one day they won't do something this crazy. What a waste of life.
939 - Amos
Some of my thoughts on this:
I think of Cindy being the last child. . a girl among all boys. She was spoiled and obviously let everyone on a merry chase as "Princess." She learned to boss her brothers and is a strong personality. She had her way paid through collage because the family was better off financially. Her brothers had to pay their own way if they wanted to go to school. She was a go getter and expected everyone in her orbit to be one, too. Her husband had to conform to this whirlwind but could not measure up. Casey learned to lie when she could not come up to snuff. She was used to a mother who would do things for her if her efforts were not so perfect. She became a lazy and a liar. Instead of Casey being punished for her lying early on, her lying was ignored. Ignored from her mother because she was busy and correcting a child takes time, ignored from her dad because he was not a strong player. These thing do not correct themselves. . train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart. These people trained a liar up. Casey's conscience became harder and harder with each lie. She thought everyone in the world would believe her not so cunning facade. . after all her parents believed she had a "female problem" when she was seven months pregnant. . how ridiculous is that?
Casey was the center of her parents world, spoiled, lazy, and self-centered. She was trained up to be that way. She had a mommy and daddy who would fix things when they went wrong and she usually got what she wanted. When Coyle came along, it cut into her fun and games. Cindy, who up till this time let Casey be an irresponsible child, now expected her to act responsible. Cindy created a monster and now expected the monster to act responsible. Casey's conscience was so hardened and her view so twisted and self centered that she was able to chloroform her daughter to spite her mom who would no longer jump through her hoop. Gosh, she could get her freedom to feed her every whim and spite her mama, too. . .imagine that. . .
Just some of my thoughts on this:
I think of Cindy being the last child. . a girl among all boys. She was spoiled and obviously let everyone on a merry chase as "Princess." She learned to boss her brothers and is a strong personality. She had her way paid through collage because the family was better off financially. Her brothers had to pay their own way if they wanted to go to school. She was a go getter and expected everyone in her orbit to be one, too. Her husband had to conform to this whirlwind but could not measure up. Casey learned to lie when she could not come up to snuff. She was used to a mother who would do things for her if her efforts were not so perfect. She became a lazy and a liar. Instead of Casey being punished for her lying early on, her lying was ignored. Ignored from her mother because she was busy and correcting a child takes time, ignored from her dad because he was not a strong player. These thing do not correct themselves. . train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart. These people trained a liar up. Casey's conscience became harder and harder with each lie. She thought everyone in the world would believe her not so cunning facade. . after all her parents believed she had a "female problem" when she was seven months pregnant. . how ridiculous is that?
Casey was the center of her parents world, spoiled, lazy, and self-centered. She was trained up to be that way. She had a mommy and daddy who would fix things when they went wrong and she usually got what she wanted. When Caylee came along, it cut into her fun and games. Cindy, who up till this time let Casey be an irresponsible child, now expected her to act responsible. Cindy created a monster and now expected the monster to act responsible. Casey's conscience was so hardened and her view so twisted and self centered that she was able to chloroform her daughter to spite her mom who would no longer jump through her hoop. Gosh, she could get her freedom to feed her every whim and spite her mama, too. . .imagine that. . .
Dr. Mitchell, I appreciated your article and the way you have treated everyone who has answered. You are a kind individual. I do not see that quality in Casey. I was thinking on how you have said that these people do not change because they see nothing wrong with themselves. Killing, brutally killing a child who loved and adored her. . .it is a hard heart and a seared conscience that Casey has. Her parents are still backing her and not making her face up to her wrongs. Every kick has a kick back. . Casey needs to be held accountable for what she has done.
I grieve for that precious child. . even the grandparents will not own up to their wrongs in the way they raised up their daughter. .why should Casey see a need to confess and except her due?
At this season I have been thinking more on this. .Maybe that is why the angels said to the shepherds in the field. . His name shall be called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Maybe He gives us vision of who we are and changes our heart hearts and seared conscience.
Just some of my thoughts. . .