Enjoyment from watching others get hurt, and sociopathy

[chorlton]

normal is a setting on a washing machine nothing more

dejavu

are you the control in this social experiment ?

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

CL....i don't watch ufc with the mind that I'd love to see these guys get bloodied up and hurt 😳 God no... Combat sports is a art.. Not anyone that can throw a punch can survive inside a ring or an octagon.. It takes a lot of dedication, preparation, daily intense training, diet controlling, weight cutting, sparring... It may sound easy but not everyone can do it at the level of a professional athlete... Both fighters in a ring(or an octagon) does this..and they're doing it to feed their wife and their kids, they're risking and putting their life on the line for their family.. Watching a fight means that I show appreciation for their effort (the winner and the loser) and it's a show of support and admiration to their dedication and hard work... At the end of the day we're all doing what we can to live one more day no need to call it sociopathic.. ☺️

[Catholic_Lady]

Most of what you list is what I call "guy stuff". Not to say that all "guy stuff" is sociopathic or that only guys like contact sports or violent movies. Although I suspect it's only guys who jerk off to the 40% of web porn that depicts violence against women.

Like most human behavior, sociopathy runs on a spectrum. Where things like contact sports and violent movies fall on that spectrum is up for debate, though.

-Teresa

My take on it is that people seem to be able to switch off their empathy for certain situations, whether it's in sports or if it's a criminal awaiting punishment. What differentiates the sociopaths from the normal people is that the sociopaths can't switch theirs back on.

Hm, this is an interesting theory...

But then again, there's a difference between turning off/compartmentalizing empathy, and actually going as far as to enjoy watching others get hurt. I can see turning it off to where you won't be emotionally effected by it, but actually liking it is a whole other level.

[WinterHold]

It's not the pain itself that others like to see in my perspective; but feelings like power, control and domination, and pain of others is just one needed emotion to feel powerful. Humans have a severe problem with these feeling. They just love it.

Some get the high from seeing blood spilled in a fight with a foe getting their teeth knocked ; others from seeing explosions and shootings; others from getting their wallets emptied by a mistress and getting slapped and spit on.

There must be another feeling behind it; that's how I think about it: if you enjoy watching others suffer; it doesn't mean you like to suffer yourself. You just like watching others suffer, and feeling "safe" in your shoes; for example.

I know that most Romans were weak cunts because they needed gladiators and torn slaves to give them a feeling of superiority and safety. No wonder the Barbarians butchered them.

[chorlton]

death penalty in usa
many scream for it there

no death penalty in uk
few scream for it there

one is majority theist
one is majority atheist

empathy is all you need
empathy isn't related to people choosing to do high risk activities

I used to race motorbikes, id get hurt badly & often by others actions
different to boxing/mma ?

[Rev. Rye]

My take on it is that people seem to be able to switch off their empathy for certain situations, whether it's in sports or if it's a criminal awaiting punishment. What differentiates the sociopaths from the normal people is that the sociopaths can't switch theirs back on.

Hm, this is an interesting theory...

But then again, there's a difference between turning off/compartmentalizing empathy, and actually going as far as to enjoy watching others get hurt. I can see turning it off to where you won't be emotionally effected by it, but actually liking it is a whole other level.

I think that difference ends up coming about through socialization. To use just one example, if you get raised in an era where sports blooper videos are popular material to laugh at, you're likely to find them funny even though there's a very real chance that those moments you're laughing at are the same moments where people got severe brain damage.

[Catholic_Lady]

I wonder if part of it is the ability to dehumanize people when they are on TV or on a stage of some sort. It doesn't mean the person doesn't have empathy, just that they are disassociating the screen with real human beings.

Though that still doesn't explain why actual enjoyment would come of it. Could be just something that was taught through socialization, like Rev said. But still strange though...

[chorlton]

every time I see a priest on stage cutting penis flesh & hear the screams of agony from a tiny helpless child I imagine the empathy of the abusers is gone along with their morality, sanity & respectability of those who fund it

same goes to those who fund pedos to allow them they money to pay $4billion hush money or billions more to lobby for laws that stop prosecution after just a decade or two eg in NY state

seems many have no issue with that because they don't see it on a tv or stage with their eyes shut

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

'Tragedy is when I stub my toe.  Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole and die.' - Mel Brooks

Boru

[Catholic_Lady]

'Tragedy is when I stub my toe.  Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole and die.' - Mel Brooks

Boru

Yes, how is that not sociopathic? Yet it seems to be the sentiment of most people...