"Are prostitutes basically sociopathic?"
Shrinks have studied men who frequent prostitutes and determined that they are more likely, in some cases much more likely, than the average man to be sociopathic. This is because hypersexuality is a common co-occurring trait in sociopaths. To consider the DSM def'n of sociopathy, go to the source:
http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.or.../pn.39.1.0025a
A. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
B. The individual is at least age 18 years.
C. There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.
D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode.
OK, let's take them one at a time:
#1: Check. Turning tricks, using drugs, engaging in various cons, all typify the life of the average whore. All illegal, still, anyway. Possibly some don't do the third, but consider this: how many times do pros. lie to clients in an effort to pique or maintain their interest in them? No more perhaps than the average salesperson trying to unload something, but still, sociopathy has also been shown to exist at greater rates among salespeople than others. So it only goes to show. And as for hypersexuality? Need I even comment? I mean, lots of whores LOVE getting fucked 8 ways from Sunday by *many* different men. I am quite certain some hypersexual women go into turning tricks so they can feed their need and make a living. It can be hard *not* banging all the guys in the office 8 hours a day, you know. A girl has needs.
#2: Again, check. People don't name their daughters "Lexxi" or "Trixxi", now do they? And how many whores lead the complicated lives they do because they have done things like ruin their credit because they in essence got caught trying to do something bad, or simply didn't bother to repay their credit cards? Simply not paying rent or debts is a kind of theft by deception: "I'll pay you back," followed by not doing it.
#3: Yep. "Can you give me a ride to...", "Can you please pick me up and...", etc. No car? No problem. MAYBE a trick will take you someplace. If not, oh well. What ya gonna do? I am amazed at how many whores I have met who have no plan B for anything and only come up with plan A when they absolutely have to. Still, it's remarkable how often things actually do work out for them, possibly because their tricks are too easily manipulated into abetting them. (See #7)
#4: Sometimes. Some whores are spazes. Not all, just some.
#5: Banging men you just met for money. You have NO idea if this guy is going to kill/rape you. Yet, you do it anyway.
#6: Need I even comment?
#7: OMG, yes. The depths of ruthless emotional and social manipulation even the most recently-minted whore is capable of would make Gordon Gekko blush with shame at being such a lightweight. If you are 3 steps in your thinking, trust me, she is 10 steps ahead. Parting you from as much money as she can get from you is part and parcel of many whores' agendas. Of course, she must suss out her trick. What is this guy's deal? If I *ask* him for another 40, will he just hand it over? Or will he be annoyed? If after I bang him and ask really nicely, will he give me another 20? How can I get him to drive me to __(blank)__ then back to ___(blank)___? The list goes on. Of course, the scale of the typical whore is rather small. World-class manipulation that causes men to part with millions only happens to men who have the millions to part with, undertaken by sociopathic women at the top of their game. But the principle is the same. Utilize the trick's "weaknesses" to get what you need/want from him: empathy, emotional attachment, neuroses, innocence, cluelessness, etc. Whatever can be exploited.
B, C, and D: Well, the only thing that may not take is C. But show me one kid who does not behave sociopathically when measured by adult behavioral standards. Lying, manipulation, and indifference to others' feelings is part and parcel of childhood. Cynical of me? No. Just ruthlessly honest.
There are sociopaths, then there are sociopaths. The kind that murder and rape are categorically worse than whore sociopathy. But the difference is in style as well as degree. Sociopathy, like sanity, is a scale. Less a binary state, more of a *condition*. To some degree, all of us are a bit sociopathic. Indeed, just about any form of selfishness (a trait that is a necessary one to survival) could be construed as tending toward an anti-social state. But the typical person can and does feel empathy, remorse, connectedness to others (esp. as a result of having sex with them repeatedly), etc. The sociopath does not feel these things, or if they do, only in small amounts. In any case, not enough for it to affect their behavior. That is why sociopaths can be punished but it has no effect on their behavior. The rest of us transgress, get slapped, and think twice before transgressing again. Sociopaths don't care, ultimately, what even happens to them, much less anyone else.
I am not saying all whores are complete sociopaths. I am merely suggesting that whores, like a fair number of regular johns might be, are likely farther down the scale of sociopathy than is the average woman.
I also think that the prostitute lifestyle might push someone toward being more sociopathic. If she didn't start out that way, the demands of the lifestyle will change her to be more that way perhaps out of practicality. I have heard it said, "You become what you do." Bet if you had made Mother Theresa turn tricks, it wouldn't have been long before she was behaving very much like the typical whore does when it comes to the above. Indeed, how many perfectly decent peace-loving men have been turned into stone-cold killers by the demands of the battlefield? Too many to count.
So there you have it. Thoughts?
"Are prostitutes basically sociopathic?"
