Is not it the case of anti-social personality disorder? A sociopath being the second most popular cultural hero after a cartoon character known as Jesus Christ is quite revealing about the nature of the US society. As Phillip Zimbardo used to say, if one person is having delusions it is considered a mental disorder, but if more people share the same delusions, it is considered a point of view and protected by constitutional amendments.
That can also be nicely illustrated by the European and American definitions of anti-social personality disorder. In the European description, the social harm of the behavior and its impact on others is featured quite prominently, whereas in the American definition it almost disappears and is replaced with personal unpleasantness and disrespect of law. No doubt, if the European definition were applied in the US, most of the population would be diagnosed with that disorder.
Wojtek
European Description
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders World Health Organization, Geneva, 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
F60.2 Dissocial (Antisocial) Personality Disorder Personality disorder, usually coming to attention because of a gross disparity between behaviour and the prevailing social norms, and characterized by at least 3 of the following:
(a) callous unconcern for the feelings of others; (b) gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules and obligations; (c) incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them; (d) very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence; (e) incapacity to experience guilt and to profit from experience, particularly punishment; (f) marked proneness to blame others, or to offer plausible rationalizations, for the behaviour that has brought the patient into conflict with society.
There may also be persistent irritability as an associated feature. Conduct disorder during childhood and adolescence, though not invariably present, may further support the diagnosis.
American Description
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
Diagnostic Criteria There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following: failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure impulsivity or failure to plan ahead irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults reckless disregard for safety of self or others consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another The individual is at least age 18 years. There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years.
Source: http://www.mentalhealth.com/icd/p22-pe04.html