by Stephen Janowsky

Created on: May 15, 2008

Human-like reptiles

"Imagine if you can not having a conscience, none at all, no feelings of guilt or remorse no matter what you do, no limiting sense of concern for the well-being of strangers, friends, or even family members. Imagine no struggles with shame, not a single one in your whole life, no matter what kind of selfish, lazy, harmful, or immoral action you had taken. And pretend that the concept of responsibility is unknown to you, except as a burden others seem to accept without question, like gullible fools. Now add to this strange fantasy the ability to conceal from other people that your psychological makeup is radically different from theirs. Since everyone simply assumes that conscience is universal among human beings, hiding the fact that you are conscience-free is nearly effortless". These words by psychologist Martha Stout describe the perfect modern predator: the human reptile.

We, normal people, are certainly imperfect creatures. Every one of us has his or her own glows and shadows, our ups and downs. We may be, at certain points in our lives and in various degrees, good or bad, strong or weak, generous or selfish, bright or stupid. Still, we are all undoubtedly and forever human, as long as we can tell the right from wrong.

Beyond any human natural variety, there lives among us a particular species of reptile wearing human faces and stylish outfits. Yet, perfectly concealed beneath these covers, they are wrapped in a cold moist skin or in a rough greenish shell. Observing this, a famous scientist, called doctor Robert Hare, described them as "snakes in suits". Given their deceiving external appearance and their glibness, these animals are easily mistaken for normal people. Actually, they couldn't be more deeply inhuman, as they lack the most specific and essential of all human traits, which is conscience. Let me get this clear: it's not that they have a bad, perverted, or shrunken conscience; they simple have none. They are neither good nor bad; they are nothing but cold-blooded beasts. These dangerous and odd creatures are scientifically known as psychopaths, but whether they belong to mankind or to the animal reign is still unclear.

Although they share almost all other human-like characteristics (except they are more dull than average people), these individuals are born with reptilian brains. Inside a psychopath's mind, feelings are completely blocked and reduced to mere sensations, and thoughts only pass through some bizarre short-circuits.

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