[ExI] Nootropics and Anders

[Anders Sandberg]

On 2013-12-28 12:32, BillK wrote:
> Sociopaths have the same IQ spread as the rest of the population.  But
> the sociopaths we *notice* are the high IQ successful group. Those who
> can't cope with society end up homeless or in jail.

Exactly. Most sociopaths are quite impaired: not caring for other 
people, yet not being very good at manipulating them means that you end 
up badly.

> So successful high IQ sociopaths cause more trouble for society
> because they are using their higher IQ to manipulate people and
> systems for their own advantage. The more normal high IQ people get
> pushed aside or occupy themselves with interesting careers and hobbies
> leaving the coast clear for the sociopaths to take over politics,
> finance, corporations, etc.

If you only look out for yourself, you will of course aim for situations 
that are going to be beneficial for you. So expect to see the smart 
sociopaths in places where they can gain. If you change the rules so it 
becomes harder to benefit, they will move somewhere else (or figure out 
a way around the rules).

The exact losses to society from sociopaths are hard to estimate, but I 
suspect they are *enormous*. Consider the effect of defectors 
undermining trust in prisoner-dilemma situations: the extra friction due 
to lower trust levels affects everybody, even if the defectors are a 
tiny minority. And bad, self-serving decisions from decisionmakers also 
affect all of society.

There are situations where you want a certain degree of sociopathy as a 
defense against burnout or excessive empathy, for example in surgeons. 
But most such situations are formal or non-social.

> I suspect that many of the charming charismatic politicians and
> corporate leaders that Anders consults with are actually sociopaths
> looking for the best way to increase their own power and influence.
> Until you see them in action it is hard to appreciate just how good at
> manipulation these higher IQ sociopaths are. You find yourself
> *wanting* to help and assist them in their schemes.

Exactly. But these are the smart, social sociopaths, 1% of 1% of the 
population. The others are largely failures.

I wonder is sociopaths are going to be the next group to argue for 
neurodiversity rights.


-- 
Dr Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University