On a recent episode of Criminal Minds I learned that a persistent passion for Catcher in the Rye is considered an indicator of sociopathology. Seems that Holden’s disaffection is shared by quite a few assassins,serial killers and other miscreants. But, I thought with dismay, I LOVE Catcher in the Rye! And I’ve loved Holden since I was morose nine-year-old! Could I be a sociopath?
I went onto Google to investigate further.
According to Lovefraud.com, sociopaths exhibit the following symptoms:
• Glib and superficial
• Egocentric and grandiose
• Lack of remorse or guilt
• Lack of empathy
• Deceitful and manipulative
• Shallow emotions
R-uh, oh! I’m completely glib! Apparently sociopaths are often “witty and articulate.” That’s me! “They can be amusing and entertaining conversationalists, ready with a quick and clever comeback”. Me! Me! I’m also self-centred and like the world to revolve around me! On the other hand, I’m usually drowning in remorse and guilt over one thing and another. I’m not too deceitful and my emotions, especially when it comes to criminal justice shows on television, are anything but shallow.
I empathize with others to the point where sometimes I don’t like to leave the house in case I see something to empathize with. Which brings me to the other sociopathic traits (I mean, besides an abiding love of Catcher in the Rye). Sociopaths also demonstrate an tendency to have antisocial lifestyles! Gulp.
Sociopaths are:
• Impulsive
• Have poor behavior controls
• Need excitement
• Lack a sense of responsibility
• Demonstrate early behavior problems
• Adult antisocial behavior
Okay, well, I don’t have any of those really. Except for a tendency to pretend dishes aren’t mine. I definitely do not suffer from a need for excitement. Oh, and I did have early-behaviour problems. But they’ve most cleared up now. Seventy percent, anyway.
So, it’s looking like I’m not a sociopath. What I am is a YA novelist. Other than among the sociopathic population in prisons, the other big fan base for lovers of Holden is a certain type of YA writer. So where does the sociopathology start and the YA writing begin? Is YA writing something we get into because we are nearly sociopaths?
I’m going to keep watching Criminal Minds to find out and at literary festivals and so forth I’m going to keep a VERY careful eye on the the teen writers!