Is it normal to be attracted to neurosis/psychosis?

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I frequently find myself attracted to people with conditions such as sociopathy or psychopathy and asperges syndrome. Usually people who lack social skills but are very intelligent. I noticed it when I watched BBC's Sherlock, and instantly became attracted to both Moriarty and Sherlock. Since then, anyone who displays signs of neurosis etc. seems to attract me more than ordinary people.

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67% Normal
Based on 30 votes (20 yes)
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Comments ( 21 )
  • disthing
    11 years ago

    I agree with ItDuz. I think media portrayals of psychologically unstable male protagonists are very specific; they're always difficult, awkward, but extremely talented at whatever it is they do, and accidentally charming. They are anti-heros, but archetypical all the same.

    Actual sociopaths/psychopaths are emotionally retarded. They're typically very adept at appearing otherwise, but they're content to steamroll through other people's lives taking what they can without any guilt. They can be extremely cruel, and they won't magically find a soft spot just for you, they'll fuck you and throw you away. If you like the idea of being used for sex/money then go for it.

    Psychosis which you mentioned is characterised by paranoid delusions. They might throw your mobile phone down the toilet because they think the government has bugged it, they might be convinced you're part of the conspiracy and threaten to kill you, they might have severe depression because of their difficulty dealing with such a debilitating psychological disorder and consider killing themselves.

    I think the 'cool and handsome, extremely intelligent men who are troubled in some way' portrayed on telly rarely accurately reflect the true nature of mental instability, and you're letting this fictional ideal cause you to view people with real problems through rose-tinted spectacles.

    "Oh he's so dark and disturbed... DREAMY!" *He strangles you to death and cuts off your face to find the mechanical spiders the CIA hid in your skin*

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    • Riddler
      9 years ago

      Some disorders are marked by being superficially charming such as narcissists. Many psychopaths who killed were also very charming but they were still crazy and ended up killing people. So having a character with a psychological disorder that is charming is not really that far fetched.

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      • disthing
        9 years ago

        I know - the most adept of psychopaths can charm their way up the ladder into all kinds of impressive positions: dictators, military commanders, CEOs.

        Doesn't change the fact that in the context of television, film and literature, psychopaths, psychotics and those with disorders such as Aspergers are rarely depicted honestly, warts and all, leading people like OP to develop unrealistic ideas of what it is to have these various conditions, or what it would be to have a relationship with someone with these various conditions.

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    • Scarlettfox
      11 years ago

      I'd like it if you'd stop making assumptions about me, despite not knowing me at all. I have researched mental conditions extremely thoroughly, I know what I'm talking about.

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      • disthing
        11 years ago

        Ok I apologise for making assumptions. But when you say that you noticed your attraction to people with mental conditions after watching Sherlock I found it hard not to.

        If you have researched them thoroughly, then I think the answer to your question is no it's not normal. I think being attracted to people who are slightly dysfunctional, different, awkward is fairly normal. But people diagnosed with psychosis or psychopathy/sociopathy aren't 'slightly dysfunctional, different', they have serious issues. That's something that to most people would be concerning and not something they'd be attracted by, but attracted in spite of.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    According to a lot of people on here, and a few in reality (I act differently in reality, not myself) I am a sociopathic, psychotic, narcissistic person that is antisocial. Obviously I don't believe myself to be either, but let's keep going with the example.
    Point being, I am not very liked on here, and the media versions of sociopaths, etc, are completely different to the real ones.

    I have no doubt that if you met one of these people, you would think differently.

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    • disthing
      11 years ago

      Judging by what I've seen of you on here, you're not a sociopath or psychotic. People labelling you so probably don't know what either sociopathy or psychosis is.

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        Agreed. My mental state is healthy and fine. I have said the same things to the people labelling me as such. Good that someone is able to realize.

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      • Scarlettfox
        11 years ago

        I know I'm not, I just find people with those disorders fascinating.

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        • disthing
          11 years ago

          My comment was a reply to ItDuz. I haven't really noticed you before.

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          • Scarlettfox
            11 years ago

            Oh ok. I haven't been here long.

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            • disthing
              11 years ago

              Only 1 day and 4 hours! Always nice to see a new face round here instead of the same old ugly mugs :P

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    • Scarlettfox
      11 years ago

      I have met people with neurosis before. I had a friend with asperges syndrome, who was also the first person I'd ever really 'fancied'.
      I'm also slightly like people like that myself, I lack much empathy, I'm not great socially, I'm clever and hand I go through intervals of narcissism.

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        There are differences. I have read somewhere that people lack empathy when they are depressed or bored most of the time. Also, there is a difference between vanity and narcissism. Also, not being social can make people more vain, that doesn't make them narcissistic.
        You can't be partially narcissistic, you are or you're not. You openly admit to having these "problems", which a narcissist would not do, they are "perfect", and having a personality dissorder isn't "perfect".

        I would say aspergers syndrome isn't nearly as bad as the others in the list, not by a long shot.

        I have known a lot of people with such mental and personality dissorders, and believe me, you would not like them.

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        • Scarlettfox
          11 years ago

          Well you can't really tell me who I would or would not like. I'm not a particularly predictable person.

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          • [Old Memory]
            11 years ago

            I had a feeling that you would say something along those lines...Which was rather pedictable...

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  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    I've been attracted to people like this for a long time. They're real and interesting people:)

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  • UhhhOK
    11 years ago

    I'm extremely bipolar with skizo features. Been told I have psychosis plenty of times

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  • KeddersPrincess
    11 years ago

    At least you are attracted to people who are real. I like the thought of an immortal.

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    • Scarlettfox
      11 years ago

      Well, I have my fair share of fictional 'crushes'..

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      • KeddersPrincess
        11 years ago

        Me too. Sad thing is, they're all from my own original stories.

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