Understanding Gnanasara Through A Psychological Perspective
Dr. Dhammika Herath
Psychopathy and Sociopathy are often misunderstood and misquoted in contemporary psychiatry, as well as among the general public. However, the study of this fascinating aspect of human personality is important in order to understand certain individuals that we deal with. There is hardly ever an opportunity to analyse someone who so publicly demonstrates a range of behaviours, impulses and cognitions as well as interpersonal relations which are the cornerstone of one’s personality.
In recent months, I have had the opportunity to observe this man who has exposed himself so much in the media. An analysis of his psychological make up is warranted and timely.
Psychopathy is not a very well researched clinical entity, as most psychopaths are either incarcerated or in high public and business offices. It is not a mental condition that can be successfully treated. The problem of personality disorder is where the sufferer is neither aware of the condition, nor distressed by the symptom profile. For him the entire world is wrong but not himself.
His thought processes are egosyntonic and do not cause any distress in him. His behaviour, however much deviant, immoral and unethical, are normal to him, and he will justify them, even going to extreme lengths to justify them.
His interpersonal skills and relations are tattered, but he blames the others for his faults. He lies, deceives, manipulates, even becomes violent to reach his ends and goals. Those actions and behaviours leave no guilt or remorse, and he rather enjoys the suffering of others, and will not hesitate to inflict pain in others in order to derive pleasure or monetary or other material or sexual gains. Moreover, he will act predatorily, using others’ money and property for his own pleasure.
Psychopaths usually live a parasitic life, they do not work, simply live at the expense of others and tend to be proud of it. With air of grandiosity, they tend to be charming, sweet talking and when necessary violently aggressive and will justify their most vicious actions.
