Jon Ronson on psychopathy, with Sam Pang at the Wheeler Centre

In The Psychopath Test, British sleuth and documentary maker Jon Ronson comes across the influential psychologist who developed the industry standard 'psychopath test' and who is convinced that many important CEOs and politicians are, in fact, psychopaths. Fresh from a chaotic appearance on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Q&A in 2011, Ronson joins Sam Pang to discuss his forays into the mental healthcare system -- and the odd spectrum of people who inhabit it.

[@iainholmes2735]

Jon is so interesting. Many years ago I heard him talk about his junk-mail experiment: really fascinating.

[@Mrsbeatle1968]

That beer bottle label took a pounding at the Q&A. I'm forever peeling labels off bottles too! Nerves gotta love em!

[@maat-ss3be]

A round of quite naive questions beginning at around 42:00, thankfully followed by sharp answers from Ronson

[@contactkeithstack]

I thought they were good questions on the whole.

[@mmabennyj]

brilliant

[@JessJaffa]

I'm glad to see this, not just since I love reading about psychopaths, but seeing Jon, I see someone else who worries probably as much as I do... and is easily convinced :P

[@jamalchristian]

IS THAT AVATAR REALLY YOU?

[@JessJaffa]

Yes, it would be a bit creepy to grab a photo of a random photo of a woman off the net. Though this is a professional shot and obviously very flattering otherwise I would not be using it ;)

[@jamalchristian]

Jess Jaffa YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. ;)

[@JessJaffa]

Thanks man, I'll let my friend know he did well with his photography skills as well. :)

[@jamalchristian]

Jess Jaffa I AM NOT FLIRTING WITH YOU. ( IN CASE YOU GOT THE WRONG IDEA )

[@likeworldlikeworld2485]

Rebeca Riley? Of COURSE i never forget THAT story from his book! Near the end.

[@contactkeithstack]

I always thought anxiety disorder was more a symptom of egotism than moral goodness.

[@contactkeithstack]

Maybe both.

[@violetgypsie]

Lots of people have anxiety. Even those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

[@likeworldlikeworld2485]

How can i email or phone him?

[@robertjsmith]

Rupert someone springs to mind

[@ninjaginger6418]

I'm seeing Catch 22 ✌

[@johnthekeane]

Reminds me of Gussie Fink-Nottle.

[@likeworldlikeworld2485]

Yep! Tony DOES sound like a psycopath, from the book. Also how he runs out the room with hardly saying good bye when time is up. I know someone who i think is a psycopath. He's a good friend but it's hard to make him speak in a civil way when he decides not to. Ok, he's harmless, at least physically. But one thing he always does is to put the phone down when he's finished, without ever saying good bye. When i once asked him about it, he didn't try to tell me it was a good thing. I had thought he meant that he never considers he's saying good bye, but that was NOT the reason.

[@Lamedvavnik]

What was the reason?

[@likeworldlikeworld2485]

Anxiety disorder might come from moral goodness, but it doesn't end with it! I mean, it's not healthy to have too much anxiety.

[@yossariancomplex]

It seems that knowledge of the checklist reduces empathetic capacity. Eeeeeeexcelent!

[@caseymckenzie5910]

Dean Radin

[@noelnewlon]

Not all sociopaths are psychopaths, but all psychopaths are sociopaths.

[@JAYMOAP]

No mate. Psychopathy and sociopathy is completely different fundamentally See my content, explained there.

[@violetgypsie]

Rubbish. There is no such thing as a sociopath, they are psychopaths. Psychopaths just hate being called that and prefer sociopath.

[@famalam943]

@@JAYMOAPthey’re not completely different. They’re the same thing used synonymously. The only difference are certain nuances which are still being discussed in the literature and certainly not agreed upon. This has not stopped general public using the *contested* differences as if they’re established fact/agreement when in reality psychologists etc are far from in agreement.

[@eric144144]

Ronson's book's findings have been rejected by The Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy and by Robert D. Hare, creator of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist. Hare described the book as "frivolous, shallow, and professionally disconcerting".

[@katewood9400]

28

[@psychologicalsuccess3476]

Masochism isn’t a disorder.

[@Pfsif]

Tooooooo Snarky !!!

[@sevenseer1121]

giggling like nervous schoolgirls

[@gudgarifilaspif8266]

The recondite stinger functionally dust because oak secondarily smile onto a sparkling cyclone. fluffy, festive domain

[@sevenseer1121]

his banal humour masks and trivialises the seriousness of psychopathy

[@ninjaginger6418]

Seven Seer he makes light of it. ✌

[@anthonynenna1697]

He acknowledges the seriousness of the subjects of his books but he has an eye for the absurd and the ironic as well. He is playing up for the crowd a bit though.

[@HeatIIEXTEND]

No, it doesn't. Get off the internet plzkaithx.

[@michaelhall5429]

Jokes usually do that bud. Bet you've laughed about something serious before. If not you may be a psychopath.

[@tuutts39]

This was difficult to watch. Too many jokes and too much laughter and self deprecation.

[@michaelhall5429]

What a bizarre criticism to make of anything ever.

[@ciupenhauer]

I know! I laughed so hard too

[@jamesroberts2282]

Perhaps the poorest non-fiction book I have ever read. He belittles the gravity of the subject matter, organizes it with all the focus of a bumblebee with a machine gun, and demonstrates the most banal style of writing I have ever encountered. His use of language is comparable to that of a demotivated high school student resigned to the fact that regardless of whatever he does he's destined to fail his GCSE in English. He assumes that his audience has the lexicon of a brick. Even the formatting of the text is so spread out that I'm sure I could find more words on the page used to teach reading to young children.

[@jamesroberts2282]

What an interesting use of vernacular "bitch about shit", and something about my "naked ass". I can tell that you would really appreciate this book, it's pitched at your level.

[@dicksteel6053]

james roberts Still missing the point I see. There is a story about an emperor and his new clothes that might help you understand... I used to be on your level and I also used misdirection when I didn't get the point, then I turned twelve...

[@jamesroberts2282]

+Dick Steel Or you think you belong to the priesthood of mental illness issues and don't like people telling you about your naked ass? So this is supposed to be an allusion to the tale "The Emperor's New Clothes"? Very creative, tenuous and certainly creative. Do you know the guy that wrote this book, you have the same ability to address real life issues via the means of an impenetrable logic.

[@dicksteel6053]

james roberts Thank you! No, I don't know the guy, I don't even like the guy, nor do I agree with him on many issues. My point is, one should point out the errors or mistakes in theories, or in this case errors in the book. One should provide with real evidence to the contrary if such evidence exists. Complaining about language, fonts/formats etc is total BS. The guy in the book was locked up in a mental institution for a number of years just because he was a "psychopath". Now, it isn't illegal to be a psychopath and the hospital staff acknowledged that he is not mentally ill, yet they kept him locked up. This is a far more serious issue than the flipping format or the flipping language used to write the book. There are many concerns regarding the whole mental illness industry and the priesthood in charge, who by the way, would be victims of various diagnoses themselves if the table was turned.

[@jamesroberts2282]

+Gregg Nolse Simply, it's a poor book. Do I have to censor myself to placate others?