Enjoyment from watching others get hurt, and sociopathy

[Edwardo Piet]

I can't speak for everyone, or even to all the sports mentioned in the OP, but big hits in football are typically indicative of a good play. I don't stand up and cheer when a receiver is clobbered after a 30-yard gain. I do, however, cheer when the oposing quarterback or running back is crushed for a loss. It's not the hit, it's the result.

So, in other words, would it be fair to say that it's not just what you're cheering but why you are cheering it, that's important?

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I know there is more to sociopathy than lack of empathy and enjoyment in watching other people get hurt. But it is one very prominent trait of a sociopath that separates them from neuro typical people... supposedly.

I think they are two traits though. Sadism is one, and lack of empathy is another. I'm sadistic, in some contexts, but I don't lack empathy. After all, I am very compassionate in other contexts.

No, I definitely don't think you're a sociopath. I dont think people who watch MMA are sociopaths. Or even people who watch violent rapey porn, necessarily.

...That's why this is so confusing to me and why I started this thread. Is there a sort of deep seeded part in many normal people that enjoyes violence against others? Is it a primitive instinct?

Yeah, I think so. And I'm glad you recognize that it takes a lot more than primal sadism to be sociopathic. So, if your question was about how that isn't sociopathic, I think the answer is "because that's not what sociopathy is".

If so, then can we really say that having empathy is part of being a normal person, when it can be so easily tossed out the window for the exact opposite? (ie, blood lust)

I think that having empathy is definitely part of being a normal person, but being sadistic is rather normal as well. It's certainly not all or nothing. I can be both empathetic and sadistic, for instance. And it's important to notice that sadism, by itself, is harmless. And, hell, it can even be enjoyed by the other person too . . . that's what masochism is. It's not just that I may get pleasure from other's pain, but if they're masochistic they may get pleasure from their pain too. And it's important to remember that pain is different to suffering, and that's the crucial difference. If they were really suffering they wouldn't be consenting to it and getting masochistic pleasure from it. I certainly don't get any pleasure from anything non-consensual that causes any genuine suffering. I think that would be borderline sociopathic . . . but still not fully sociopathic. Sociopathy is more than that.

[Catholic_Lady]

One could argue that in order to enjoy watching someone get hurt, there needs to be a lack of empathy at least at that moment.

[Edwardo Piet]

Not if they're a masochist who very much wants you to 'hurt' them and they're not actually suffering because they get great pleasure from it

[Sal]

I cringe every time someone falls or gets injured. I remember from America's Funniest Videos, how often the "funny" part was someone falling or otherwise getting an injury, wtf people?

[Edwardo Piet]

Hell, I rarely even laugh at genuine funny stuff.

I laugh mostly when someone I really like says something funny, even if it's only mildly funny, it feels hilarious when I really like someone. So it seems laughter says more about how much I like someone than how funny something is

[J a c k]

I cringe every time someone falls or gets injured. I remember from America's Funniest Videos, how often the "funny" part was someone falling or otherwise getting an injury, wtf people?

This I understand. I don’t think it’s funny. Buuuut, when the person who fell was doing a stunt knowing they may fall and they were all pumped up about it... that changes things. To me, empathy is very much affected by the degree of choice the person had in the matter.

[Catholic_Lady]

I cringe every time someone falls or gets injured. I remember from America's Funniest Videos, how often the "funny" part was someone falling or otherwise getting an injury, wtf people?

I would agree with this as well. I never did understand why it was so hilarious to watch someone fall.

[Edwardo Piet]

I cringe every time someone falls or gets injured. I remember from America's Funniest Videos, how often the "funny" part was someone falling or otherwise getting an injury, wtf people?

This I understand. I don’t think it’s funny. Buuuut, when the person who fell was doing a stunt knowing they may fall and they were all pumped up about it... that changes things. To me, empathy is very much affected by the degree of choice the person had in the matter.

Lol I agree that is hilarious.

I mean, one of the least funny pains for me ever is when a man gets hurt in the testicles . . . but there are exceptions to that.

One for me, was when I once saw a guy, who looked about 18, on a bike doing bike tricks and flips and shouting to me and my brother that we were losers and while he was looking at us he somehow got so distracted that he managed to hurt his balls on his own bike while doing his bike flips, like "ARGHHH!". Don't ask me how the fuck he did that. That takes talent. Most impressive bike trick he ever did!

[Succubus]

I wonder if several centuries into the future violent type sports are going to be seen as immoral.

Must, Resist, Asking, Obvious, follow up Question.

[vorlon13]

I wonder if several centuries into the future violent type sports are going to be seen as immoral.

I think we are seeing it happen in real time with professional football.  If there is no way for the game to be played safely and remain 'profitable' it will be consigned to 'the trash heap of history'.

Here is what CTE looks like: