[Ailist] Re: on sociopaths, bullying, and AI

[Alice Leibowitz]

I'm intrigued by the discussion about sociopaths, bullying, and AI.
Often, when I want to check how universal a theory of human behavior
might be, I ask myself whether it would apply to sociopaths, as I have
read about them.

I want to start by saying the vast majority of workplace bullies are
not sociopaths. (Some theories would also say that most sociopaths do
not show up as bullies, but are charming and easy to get along with
until they suddenly commit extreme violence). Even most sadists are
not sociopaths, and are capable of empathy in some contexts. So to say
we can't use AI with bullies because a few of them may be sociopaths
doesn't make numerical sense.

Further, AI doesn't rely on changing a "problem" individual. Some of
the best anti-bullying strategies, including several of the ones named
on this list, are bystander interventions. So one can do AI on
sociopaths much the way one does AI on hurricanes: byasking how we can
reduce or avoid the harm they cause.

-- 
Alice Leibowitz
Partner
Insight Unlimited LLC
Non-profit, Community, and Grassroots Consulting
Hartford, CT
alice at insightunlimited.org
www.insightunlimited.org
(860) 956-9299

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