Strange answers to the psychopath test | Jon Ronson | TED

Summary

In this humorous and thought-provoking talk, the speaker discovers they have 12 mental disorders after browsing the DSM manual. They meet with a Scientologist critic of psychiatry and visit Broadmoor Hospital to meet Tony, a man who faked insanity to avoid prison but ended up trapped in a psychiatric facility. The narrative explores the complexities of mental health diagnosis, the potential overreach of psychiatric labeling, and the gray areas of human behavior, culminating in a broader discussion about the nature of psychopathy and its surprising presence in society.

Takeaways

• 📚 The DSM manual has expanded significantly from a slim pamphlet in the '50s to a comprehensive 886-page book listing 374 mental disorders.
• 🤔 The speaker humorously discovers they have 12 mental disorders according to the DSM, including generalized anxiety disorder and nightmare disorder.
• 😅 The concept of self-diagnosis is questioned, as the speaker ponders the implications of labeling normal human behavior as a mental disorder.
• 🤝 An encounter with a Scientologist named Brian leads to a discussion about the validity of psychiatry and the introduction to Tony, a man at Broadmoor Hospital.
• 🏥 Broadmoor Hospital, formerly an asylum for the criminally insane, is where Tony ended up after faking madness to avoid a prison sentence.
• 🕴️ Tony's attempt to appear sane by dressing well and discussing normal topics backfires as the hospital staff misinterpret his behavior as signs of mental illness.
• 🧐 The speaker becomes a certified psychopath spotter after attending a course by Robert Hare, the creator of the psychopath checklist.
• 📊 One in a hundred people are considered psychopaths, with a higher percentage found among CEOs and business leaders, suggesting that certain psychopathic traits might be advantageous in capitalism.
• 🔍 The speaker interviews 'Chainsaw Al' Dunlap, a business figure known for ruthless cost-cutting measures, and reflects on the tendency to focus on the extreme aspects of a person's character.
• 🔄 The story concludes with Tony's release from Broadmoor after 14 years, highlighting the complexities and gray areas in diagnosing and treating mental disorders.

Q & A

What was the initial observation the speaker made about the DSM manual?

The speaker initially observed that the DSM manual, which lists mental disorders, has grown from a slim pamphlet in the '50s to a 886-page book listing 374 mental disorders.

How many mental disorders did the speaker discover they had upon self-assessment?

Upon self-assessment, the speaker discovered they had 12 mental disorders.

What is the significance of Broadmoor Hospital in the context of the story?

Broadmoor Hospital, formerly known as the Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally Insane, is significant as it is where the speaker meets Tony, a man who faked madness to avoid a prison sentence but ended up in the hospital.

Why did Tony initially fake madness, and what was the outcome?

Tony initially faked madness to avoid a prison sentence for beating someone up. However, he faked it too well and ended up in Broadmoor Hospital for 12 years, longer than his original prison sentence would have been.

What was Tony's strategy to convince people of his sanity within Broadmoor?

Tony's strategy was to act and speak normally about everyday topics like football or current events, subscribing to New Scientist to have relevant conversations.

How did the staff at Broadmoor interpret Tony's behavior?

The staff at Broadmoor interpreted Tony's normal behavior, such as staying in his room and not wanting to socialize with other patients, as signs of madness, specifically aloofness and grandiosity.

What was the clinician's final assessment of Tony after his release from Broadmoor?

After 14 years, Tony was released from Broadmoor as they determined he should not be held indefinitely based on a checklist score that suggested a higher chance of recidivism.

What did the speaker learn about the prevalence of psychopathy in society after attending Robert Hare's psychopath-spotting course?

The speaker learned that one in a hundred regular people is a psychopath, with a higher prevalence among CEOs and business leaders, suggesting that certain psychopathic traits might be rewarded in ruthless capitalism.

How did the speaker's perception of Al Dunlap, the 'asset stripper,' align with the traits of a psychopath?

The speaker's perception of Al Dunlap aligned with psychopathic traits as he displayed grandiosity, manipulativeness, and a lack of empathy, which are characteristic of a psychopath.

What realization did the speaker come to regarding the nature of journalism and labeling people?

The speaker realized that journalism, like their own experience with labeling Al Dunlap as a psychopath, often focuses on the extreme or 'maddest edges' of a person's character, neglecting the normal aspects and leading to a one-dimensional portrayal.