It isn't surprising that Simpson craves attention without taste or restraint, since he has always exhibited the classic traits of the sociopath. After all, sociopathology is merely a vicious variant of narcissistic object relations (see J. Reid Meloy's
The Psychopathic Mind; H. Clerkley's
The Mask of Sanity, one of the first books on the subject, outlines the connection). Simpson's perpetual equivocations, fluid dishonesty, shallow charisma and public grandstanding are all indicative of sociopathic behavior. It would be interesting to ask an observer from childhood whether Simpson exhibited the three classic signs: pyromania, cruelty to animals and bedwetting.
While some sociopaths are extremely cunning and stay at the fringes of societal awareness (Dennis Nilsen, Angelo Buono, before he was caught), many crave attention by proxy (Dennis Radar, Randy Kraft, the Zodiac killer, David Berkowitz). Others prove as inept in their pursuit of attention as they were in attempting to cover up their crimes (Kenneth Bianchi), while some seem to want to be caught -- not because they feel remorse and wish to be stopped, but because their craving for attention becomes so great that they eventually scratch the itch in public. After all, sociopaths are characterized by low impulse control and a lack of empathy, not discretion or restraint.
Theatrical hypocrisy seems a constant trait of the sociopath. In jail, Bianchi trumpeted his newfound status as a Christian and "minister," while Bundy excoriated pornographers and made last-minute maps of his crimes. These were not acts of contrition but transparent attempts at manipulation.
Vaudevillian manipulation also characterizes Simpson's approach to his how-to book on murder. Serial killer Carl Panzram's autobiography is atypical in its brutal and grimly amusing honesty (though he probably derived sadistic pleasure from repulsing the reader); Simpson's approach is far more characteristic of sociopathology: shady, manipulative and ultimately evasive. (A source no less authoritative than the DSM-IV characterizes the sociopath as inclining toward grandiosity while simultaneously craving admiration.)
For your edification: R. Hare's checklist for identifying a sociopath. Notice how many of the bullet points seem to apply to Simpson, and how many might lead to his confessing obliquely without taking direct responsibility.
- Glibness/superficial charm
- Grandiose sense of self-worth
- Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
- Pathological lying
- Conning/manipulative
- Lack of remorse or guilt
- Shallow affect
- Callous/lack of empathy
- Parasitic lifestyle
- Poor behavioral controls
- Promiscuous sexual behavior
- Early behavioral problems
- Lack of realistic, long-term goals
- Impulsivity
- Irresponsibility
- Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
- Many short-term relationships
- Juvenile delinquency
- Revocation of conditional release
- Criminal versatility
I already bought a DB DT-770. I'm in pain already.
