Why do we sign contracts? Because we know, normal people, would just run away with money and goods if he knows he can get away with it. But that’s precisely what psychopaths would do.
So what’s the difference?
If they both do the same thing under the same choice, then they must have the same utility function. What are the main difference between a psychopath’s utility function and most humans’ utility function?
I got burned in bizs several time in my life. Nine out of 10, if I trust a stranger I got burned even over small money like $50. After a while, I sort of presume that everyone is a psychopath and make sure that if they hold onto my money it is toward their best interest to cooperate. So far it works.
But then I was surprised when people think that most humans are not psychopaths. Are all people delusional?
I learn evolutionary psychology. Humans are altruistic only to 1. family 2. reciprocal altruism. (friends)
Number 2 is not really altruism. I do good to others because I want to build a relationship so I can expect better earning for my self.
Then I read about psychopathy here: http://www.thehiddenevil.com/psychopathy.asp
Unreliability
Frequent lying
Deceitful and manipulative behavior (either goal-oriented or for the delight of the act itself)
Lack of remorse or shame
Antisocial behavior
Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience
Incapacity for love
Poverty of general emotions
Loss of insight
Unresponsiveness in personal relations
A frequent need for excitement
An inflated self-worth
An ability to rationalize their behavior
A need for complete power
A need to dominate others
Which of those traits are not common? I mean we see workers have inflated self worth and demand minimum wage. We saw unproductive people demanding government to tax the productive. We saw cradle to grave welfare recipients that keep breeding. We saw religious leaders wanting to prohibit all sex outside marriage.
Which of us are not psychopaths? Which of us are not in business of taking advantage, and dominating others?
Even when you go to a store and buy a milk, you are using your money/power to use the store owners to get what you want, namely milk. Duh. Isn’t that how all economic transaction works?
The last 2 are traits common for all voters. Why do you think people hate free market so much if not because they are power hungry people that want to run our life? Because they actually care about our life and want to protect us from our choice? C’mon.
I have a hard time understanding why people think it’s so abnormal about that psychopath. Many don’t even break the law. They achieve success. Isn’t that what any homo economicus are supposed to do? Isn’t that what we expect from all “good citizen”. Don’t break the law, and that’s it.
Even if they break the laws. Even if they lie and manipulate others, well, what do you expect when laws and societies do not severely punish fraud and keep punishing the productive?
What kind defendant or lawyers, when confronted with crime, quickly tell the truth, nothing but the truth, even if the defendant is innocent? If the law is such that you get convicted based on what the jury believe, of course, you present your case in positive light.
What kind of advertisers do not portray their products in positive light? What percentage of humans would cheat and kill when it’s legal?
Isn’t that what maximize our self interests truly mean?
So what’s the difference?
What’s the difference between psychopath, homo economicus, and typical humans? is a post from: Free Market Forever