General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSandusky's attorney is going to use the 'histrionic personality disorder' as a defense:
Histrionic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions called "Cluster B" or "dramatic" personality disorders.
People with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions and distorted self-images. For people with histrionic personality disorder, their self-esteem depends on the approval of others and does not arise from a true feeling of self-worth. They have an overwhelming desire to be noticed, and often behave dramatically or inappropriately to get attention. The word histrionic means "dramatic or theatrical."
Symptoms:
Be uncomfortable unless he or she is the center of attention
Dress provocatively and/or exhibit inappropriately seductive or flirtatious behavior
Shift emotions rapidly
Act very dramatically, as though performing before an audience, with exaggerated emotions and expressions, yet appears to lack sincerity
Be overly concerned with physical appearance
Constantly seek reassurance or approval
Be gullible and easily influenced by others
Be excessively sensitive to criticism or disapproval
Have a low tolerance for frustration and be easily bored by routine, often beginning projects without finishing them or skipping from one event to another
Not think before acting
Make rash decisions
Be self-centered and rarely show concern for others
Have difficulty maintaining relationships, often seeming fake or shallow in their dealings with others
Threaten or attempt suicide to get attention
<snip>
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/histrionic-personality-disorder
Yeah, that's the ticket!
Almost every 9th grader I taught had several of these symptoms.
Sandusky might as well use the Twinkie Defense. I think his attorney is going to throw anything and everything against the wall and hope something sticks.
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)worked.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)And one that might well meet Sandusky.
eom
Stargazer09
(2,132 posts)That says sufferers of this disorder spend decades molesting children.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)to foresee Sandusky spending the rest of his life in the crowbar Hilton. And deservedly so.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)They would be better off saving the "personality disorder" claim for the sentencing hearing... get him out of general population.