Diagnoses for Voldemort, Snape, Sirius?

[Judy]

No: HPFGUIDX 47070

Audra said:
> Studies show that APD [Antisocial Personality Disorder]
> is to some degree genetic, but enviroment plays
> a large part in its development.  
> Absent parents, particularly absent fathers have a 
> correlation with APD cases 
> (this definitely describes Tom's situation). 

I tend to see sociopathy ["APD" if you prefer, but the negative
connotations will attach themselves to whatever term is used] as
genetic. A correlation with absentee fathers does *not* prove that
environment is the cause.  Fathers with APD would be less likely to
stay with their children, and their children could inherit their genes
for APD, thus genetics could produce the correlation between absent
fathers and children with APD. 

We don't know that the older Riddles were antisocial personalities,
but certainly being "snobbish and rude" could indicate a lack of
empathy. Voldemort could have inherited his personality from them. His
anger, however, could have come from how he was treated in the
orphanage. 


Audra listed the DSM criteria for APD, causing Marina to adjust her
brand-new Sirius Apologist robes and say:
<< Please note that this lets Sirius off the hook (not that I ever
thought he was on it in the first place), as he only meets, at best,
two of the criteria: impulsivity or failure to plan ahead, and
irritability and aggressiveness....
The only criminal activity we know of Sirius engaging in is becoming
an illegal Animagus. He's not deceitful, he feels a strong sense of
responsibility toward Harry, and his remorse over his role in the
Potters' deaths is actually out of proportion to his actual blame.>>

I've previously argued that Sirius' fatherly concern for Harry in GoF
is simply inconsistent with his impulsive and violent behavior in PoA.
Even including his GoF behavior, however, I'd say that he is fairly
high in sociopathy.  However, my view of sociopathy is different from
Audra's.  First of all, I would say that sociopathy is a continuum,
and that only the people at the extreme high end are actually
abnormal. I wouldn't say that Sirius is high enough in sociopathy for
it to constitute a disorder or abnormality, but I would say it is a
prominent part of his personality.

Secondly, I'd point out that DSM criteria (including those listed here
by Audra) are used to identify people who pose problems to themselves
or others, and therefore (over)emphasize traits that are harmful.  The
DSM definition for APD leaves out positive traits associated with
sociopathy, such as being charming, as well as fairly neutral ones
such as lack of introspection.  Although I argued (a few posts back)
that all "gleeful sadists" are sociopaths, that certainly doesn't mean
that all sociopaths are gleeful sadists. One can have the
constellation of impulsiveness, fearlessness, etc. without being evil
or sadistic. 

So, I still say Sirius is sociopathic, but that doesn't mean I think
he's evil. 


Audra also said:
> If Snape has a personality disorder, 
> it's not APD, it's PPD (Paranoid Personality Disorder)....
> I think it's up for debate whether Snape's 
> paranoid behavior is warranted or not given his situation.
> As the bumper sticker says, "You're not 'paranoid' if they 
> really ARE out to get you."

This brings up another point that I wanted to make. Eileen said that
Snape isn't paranoid enough to think that Dumbledore wanted him dead.
I don't think this belief would require paranoia. The Prank occured
during Voldewar I, a war that was largely between Slytherin House and
Gryffindor House. Given this context, it's no surprise that Snape
thought the Prank was an attempt to murder him.  He showed unusual
skill as a Dark Wizard even when young ("knew more curses as a 1st
year than half the 7th year students"), so he would be a prime
candidate for elimination by the opposing side. If Dumbledore, leader
of the Gryffindor side, was lenient with Sirius (as seems to be the
case), it makes sense that Snape perceived him as condoning the
Marauders' "murder attempt." This is what I meant when I said that
Snape thought that even Dumbledore wanted him dead. 

So, I don't think Snape was (or is) paranoid.  The war with Voldemort
made people suspicious of each other; this was one of Voldemort's
specialities, as Dumbledore says at the end of GoF. (I suspect Snape's
clinically depressed, however.) 

I see Neville and Hermione as basically normal. I'm not a fan of
labeling everyone with a diagnosis; by definition, most people are
normal. 

-- Judy Serenity