LV never loved anyone

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 110548

Del wrote:
> As an aside : can one truly *choose* hate and evil if they've never
> experienced love and goodness ?
> And : wouldn't the fact that Tom never cared for anyone indicate a
> major mental disease (not unexpected considering the
> circumstances) ?

Julie replied:
>>I am looking at the diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality
Disrder, a.k.a."sociopath" or "psychopath" in the DSM-IV, and TR/LV
certainly meets the criterial. It has been hypothesized in research
involving psychopathy that these folks do lack the ability to love,
have empathy, show remorse, etc. [snip] Some have described folks 
like this as being born without a conscience. This certainly seems to 
describe Tom.<<

HunterGreen:
Just to clarify, psychopath and sociopath are not the same thing. A 
psychopath is someone who doesn't understand the difference between 
right and wrong, and a sociopath does, but doesn't care. I think 
sociopath would definitely describe Tom, as he is intelligent enough 
to understand that he is breaking rules, but lacks the empathy and 
compassion (and indeed a conscience) to care. His actions as a 
teenager reflect that. The basilisk was wrecking havoc on the school 
(I assume although only one person died, and that was more an 
accident than anything else) and he only stops it when it becomes an 
inconveinence for him. He doesn't care about someone dying or other 
students being afraid. He's aware that its wrong, but he doesn't care 
until it affects HIM in a negative way.