The self-help industry is the development of the modern psychopath

The ideal about the personal developing, self-actualizing human being shows ifself - as the Danish psychologist, Nina Østby Sæther, writes in an article in the book Selvrealisering (page 89ff) – in a remarkable way, to remind about the actual behaviour of the so-called psychopath. The resemblance steps forward by comparing the characteristic psychopathic traits with the typical attitude to life, which is introduced by the management theorists and the self-help industry (see my article Management theory and the self-help industry):

1) Psychopaths are characterized by Egocentrism/grand ideas about own value. They consider themselves as smarter than the most. The understanding of own abilities and importance is unrealistic exaggerated. The self-help industry is an expression of an individualistic way of thinking, where the main focus primarily is aimed on oneself. As the management theorists says: ”It is not facts, but the best story which wins! You can be anything, what you yourself choose to be!”

2) Psychopaths have a low frustration threshold and low threshold for aggressive reactions. In the self-help industry the tendency to express feelings immediately and heavily, is cultivated. Inhibition of emotional reactions is namely regarded as neurotic.

3) Psychopaths are in need of new impulses, and are easily subjects of boredom. In the self-help industry the idea about innovation, development and growth lies as a vital need, where experiences stand in the centre. The value of the experiences is measured from whether something is interesting or boring.

4) The psychopath´s behaviour is characterized by impulsiveness and lack of realistic long time planning. According to the self-help industry, then the self-actualizing human is characterized by ”increased spontaneity” and ability to live in the Now. (You shall here be aware of the contradiction between the future worship of the self-help industry – the winner-mentality - and the ability of being in the Now. There is a big difference between the Ego´s instinctive reactions, which origins in thought-patterns from the past, and the self-forgetful spontaneity in the Now, which the wisdomtraditions talk about).

5) The psychopath is seeking excitement, and shows a ruthless indifference for own and others secureness. In the self-help industry they dissociate from a way of life characterized by secureness and monotony, and urge to take chances and to run risks.

6) The psychopath gives expression of having specific rights, which do, that he doesn't need to follow common laws and rules. By doing so he is characterized by irresponsibility and lack of consideration of social norms, rules and obligations. In the self-help industry obligations and bindings are regarded as impediment for the self-actualization (Ego-unfolding).

7) The psychopath is characterized by lack of empathy, inability to long relationships, as well as manipulation. According to the self-help industry emotional independence is a human right. The feelings, thoughts and expectations of others are regarded as restrictive elements for the Ego-unfolding, and the goal is most possible liberation from these.

8) The psychopath is characterized by lack of feeling of guilt and regret, marked tendency to push the guilt at others or to explain away the behaviour, which creates difficulties. Psychopaths often say, that they did something, because they felt for it. Within the self-help industry all actions can be explained with starting point in feelings, which, according to self-help, are expressions of the authentic self (the Ego). In this way the self-help industry in itself can be regarded as a form of explaining away behaviour that creates social problems. Any action can be legitimized as a necessary expression of your self-actualization/personal development (Ego-unfolding).

Related article on the problem of the modern psychopath:

Humanistic psychology, self-help, and the danger of reducing religion to psychology