Is Odysseus A Psychopath?

Given the manner that Homer and, we can assume, Ancient Greek society venerated Achilles' and Odysseus' behavior, it's worth asking: might such a violent society actively seek out sociopaths and psychopaths to act as leaders and kings? Or, put another way, wouldn't psychopaths naturally excel and rise to power in these cultures?

Psychopathy is most strongly correlated with DSM-IV antisocial personality disorder.

Factor 1: Personality "Aggressive narcissism"

• Glibness/superficial charm
• Grandiose sense of self-worth
• Pathological lying
• Cunning/manipulative
• Lack of remorse or guilt
• Shallow affect
• Callous/lack of empathy
• Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

Factor 2: Case history "Socially deviant lifestyle"

• Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
• Parasitic lifestyle
• Poor behavioral control
• Promiscuous sexual behavior
• Lack of realistic, long-term goals
• Impulsivity
• Irresponsibility
• Juvenile delinquency
• Early behavior problems

Traits not correlated with either factor

• Many short-term marital relationships
• Criminal versatility

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Psychopathy_Checklist

Psychopaths and CEOs

Thanks to Joe Heiner for this lesson.