This is a bit off topic, but I’d agree that John is, indeed, sane. As far as I know, sociopaths generally are sane by most standards: they do not have delusions or compulsions, for example. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous, in the same way that an enemy soldier or a paperclip maximizer is dangerous. Similarly, people with bipolar disorder are usually sane, but sometimes need hospitalization anyway.
I’d tell John that he’s not being held because he’s crazy, he’s being held because he’s a danger to himself or others, and he’s not leaving until that’s changed.
What do you mean by people with bipolar disorder being sane?
I could understand the claim that depressed people have accurate beliefs, but are a danger to themselves, but you said bipolar. Manic stages definitely involve false beliefs and overconfidence. Maybe they’d be considered within the sane range if the overconfidence were merely verbalized. Acting on beliefs that lots of people verbalize is often insane.
Or maybe I my parse failed...an individual with bipolar is sometimes sane and sometimes insane. But I’d still call the individual insane.
Or maybe I my parse failed...an individual with bipolar is sometimes sane and sometimes insane. But I’d still call the individual insane.
And I’d call you wrong. I’d also forgive the potential offense both because the symptoms of bipolar II hypomania are less well known and because your err is asserting a definitive relationship when there is merely a significant correlation.
Bipolar II is limited to hypomania and excludes psychosis. It is certainly possible to have bipolar and nevertheless maintain beliefs, actions and verbalisations that are well within the bounds of ‘sane’. You may just have periods of having an awful lot of energy, not much sleep, plenty of confidence and rather a lot more sex than usual.
This is a bit off topic, but I’d agree that John is, indeed, sane. As far as I know, sociopaths generally are sane by most standards: they do not have delusions or compulsions, for example. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous, in the same way that an enemy soldier or a paperclip maximizer is dangerous. Similarly, people with bipolar disorder are usually sane, but sometimes need hospitalization anyway.
I’d tell John that he’s not being held because he’s crazy, he’s being held because he’s a danger to himself or others, and he’s not leaving until that’s changed.
Perhaps a little tangential, but an excellent book with a sociopathic protagonist is I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells.
What do you mean by people with bipolar disorder being sane?
I could understand the claim that depressed people have accurate beliefs, but are a danger to themselves, but you said bipolar. Manic stages definitely involve false beliefs and overconfidence. Maybe they’d be considered within the sane range if the overconfidence were merely verbalized. Acting on beliefs that lots of people verbalize is often insane.
Or maybe I my parse failed...an individual with bipolar is sometimes sane and sometimes insane. But I’d still call the individual insane.
And I’d call you wrong. I’d also forgive the potential offense both because the symptoms of bipolar II hypomania are less well known and because your err is asserting a definitive relationship when there is merely a significant correlation.
Bipolar II is limited to hypomania and excludes psychosis. It is certainly possible to have bipolar and nevertheless maintain beliefs, actions and verbalisations that are well within the bounds of ‘sane’. You may just have periods of having an awful lot of energy, not much sleep, plenty of confidence and rather a lot more sex than usual.
I stand corrected.