To those that would know..

What is the difference between a self actualized person and a sociopath?

I was always led to believe that a self actualized person is a person that has no control over holding back any of their thoughts. They will speak their mind, do as they please, and really won't care about what anyone else thinks. If they feel a certain way about someone, they will come right out and tell them right then and there regardless of who they are, where they are at, or who they are with when they do it. They are very honest people, that are sometimes are so honest that they tend to get downright brutal with it. They also tend to have a very high level of confidence in themselves and tend to have very little "if any" fear of either anyone or anything. I was also informed that this is a very rare personality trait, a trait so rare, that if you were to take every person on earth and place them in a single file line, only 1 out of every 1000 people would be found with these type of characteristics.

Now..

A Sociopath ( from what i've been led to understand) is plain and simply a person without a concious. This is a person that is incapable of showing any love or moral reaponsibility whatsoever, and are capable of doing anything to anyone at anytime. (Meaning that they can just as easily put a bullet through someones head, as easy as they could pick a flower from a field) and have absolutely no regrets or remorse whatsoever.

I guess my question is, does a self actualized person have a concious? if so, how are they any different from a person with a self actualized personality?

If I am wrong about any of the definitions described above, please feel more than free to correct me.

If anyone out there knows the answer, please explain this to me.

Anyone? :confused:

hi. A sociopath is one who has no control really over their behavior as much. A self actualized person justifies their actions to themselves on some horrific level. A sociopath can have a mental problem. They need therapy or put out of our misery lol. Both are a menace to society. I don't think that helped but who knows.

Well I definitely have a different perspective on self actualization than you do.

To me being self actualized means reaching one's full potential. A sociopath would not fit that definition.

Even from your example, telling someone what you truly believe or being brutally honest does not compare to putting a bullet through someone's brain.

If someone is self actualized they have no need to be cruel, or biting or bitter with another, let alone harm them in some physical way.

Dont be confused. I know self actualization means to reach ones full potential. But in some instances, words can be as brutal as bruises. Think if one person had stopped thinking about their advancement, would another kid have committed suicide? If an parent more concerned in making it rich spent more time with their kids, would they be better off? In ones journey to make it to all they can, they often forget who they stepped on to make it. Sometimes it is enough to help another reach their potential. Self Actualization can be good in many ways, but I just don't agree with it totally. I could not jusitfy being brutally honest and not caring what the person thought if they are my friend.

Originally posted by cheerios
Dont be confused. I know self actualization means to reach ones full potential. But in some instances, words can be as brutal as bruises. Think if one person had stopped thinking about their advancement, would another kid have committed suicide? If an parent more concerned in making it rich spent more time with their kids, would they be better off? In ones journey to make it to all they can, they often forget who they stepped on to make it. Sometimes it is enough to help another reach their potential. Self Actualization can be good in many ways, but I just don't agree with it totally. I could not jusitfy being brutally honest and not caring what the person thought if they are my friend.

We are coming from two completely different points here.

Define for me what self actualization is for you. How can you step on someone to become self actualized? You are losing me here. It is an inner journey not an acquisition of material possessions or worldly concerns although it could also involve that to some degree. So if you clarify perhaps I will understand your perspective better.

It has zero to do with being brutally honest. Although it may enable someone to be guided by truth rather than the need for approval from others perhaps, but that still has nothing to do with cruelty. That was merely Dunkirk's definition as they understood it, not the definitive definition of what it actually is.

I guess my question sould have been "Does a self actualized person have a concious?"

Reason I ask is because if he/she does, wouldn't that mean that their moral or religous beilefs would place a limitation on what they would or would not be able to achieve.

ex. Assume a self actualized person just bought a very large company. It cost a lot of money, but they have plans on turning the company around to make all of it back along with a profit. In order to do this, he/she may be forced to make the decision of who will be kept on board and who will be let go. This company may have several people that are old and unproductive, and have several children to feed. If they are let go, at their age they will find it very difficult to find work eslewhere that pays what they are presently making. A person with a consious or any type of moral or religous beliefs would find this to be a very difficult situation to be in. Whereas a Sociopath, someone wih absolutely no morals whatsoever, would be able to fire everyone without the slightest bit of hesitation, regret, or remorse.

Do you think a Self Actualized person have a concious?

Self actualization is self acceptance, and complete acceptance of personal responsibility.

I don't follow how a self actualized person would be insenstitive to others with words, or have no control over speaking their mind.

Actualization
" To become actual"

Self Actualization - to become actual about oneself - ie to see through the bullshit and know who you are, to understand ones motivations and thought cause & effect.

That explains a lot...Thanks!!

Originally posted by DrewM
Self actualization is self acceptance, and complete acceptance of personal responsibility.

I don't follow how a self actualized person would be insenstitive to others with words, or have no control over speaking their mind.

Actualization
" To become actual"

Self Actualization - to become actual about oneself - ie to see through the bullshit and know who you are, to understand ones motivations and thought cause & effect.

Thanks you made that far more clear than I was able to!!!...welcome back by the way....