do you believe some people don't have a conscience?

Question

I mean, can someone truly feel nothing, no regard, respect, empathy for someone else?

Answer 1

I believe some people sear their conscience, just like flesh is seared by a hot iron, until they have no more moral sensibilities left.

"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."
Ephesians 4:17-19

Answer 2

I saw a segment on one of those 20/20 type shows, during the time when everyone was talking about Scott Peterson. It said that he was a sociopath and that 1 in 4 people lacked a conscience. I was floored. To think that there are that many people walking around without a conscience is unimaginable. Makes ya think, huh?

Answer 3

It's called anti-social disorder. Feel free to look it up and no I am not kidding. It's an actual personality disorder. It was formerly known as sociopath and psychopath.

edit: No it's not common at all and no it's not attributed to autism. Where do you people get this stuff? This is basic General Psych!
Severe Autistic might not comprehend right from wrong which is no where close to the same thing as not having empathy, respect or a conscious. You all are meshing two COMPLETELY different disorders. Yes you ARE born with it in some very rare cases, it's not because you "soul" is eaten away. It's a MENTAL ILLNESS. Gods people scare me with their ignorance sometimes.

Answer 4

Everybody has a conscience. Conscience means "with knowledge." It is God given.

Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. Rom. 2:15

God has written the Ten Commandments in EVERY human heart so people automatically know when they do wrong and sin against God. The problem is that sinning leads to a hard heart and once that happens people are indifferent and have no respect, feel nothing, have no regard, or empathy for anyone else. It's equivalent to taking the batteries out of your smoke detector. Fortunately if we repent God give us a new heart that is sensitive to sin and we're given desires to serve Him.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ez. 36:26

Answer 5

I knew someone that had no conscience. He saw no reason he shouldn't have whatever he wanted regardless of its affect on others.. I also noticed that he imitated the emotions of others--I don't think he had any emotions except anger and maybe fear. When he was in a group of people who were laughing he would laugh too, but is sounded fake or forced. I tried to avoid being around him. I heard through the grapevine that he ended up in prison for molesting a child. Scary.

Answer 6

When I was young, I believed everyone had a conscience and there were things that would never be done because of it. Now that I'm older with many more years of experience in knowing and working with people at many levels and of many cultures and races, I no longer believe that. I now wonder how I could have ever believed it.

Answer 7

Actually, both psychopaths and sociopaths are said to lack conscience. The psychopathy entry will elaborate some of the controversies as to the relationship between sociopathy, psychopathy, and anti-social personality disorder.

Answer 8

I do, I know one, he's in prison thank goodness.Killed a couple in cold blood "because he felt like it" Burnt the man up in his truck, kidnapped the woman; acted like he was going to let her go but shot her in back. When he was young, about 14, his cousin and him went hunting and he "accidental" shot and killed him. When the double murder came out, he admitted he killed cousin just to see what it was like to see someone die. A woman was burnt up in her house years ago, he was one of prime suspects, never admitted to it, still unsolved. Makes me sick, leave in town of less than 3,000 people. I really believe a person can be born without conscience! His parents and sister are wonderful people.

Answer 9

social science deals with this. Studies have shown some interesting facts in regards to people who lack the ability to feel remorse.There are several other reasons such as neuro disorders......example Autistic Asperger syndrome

Answer 10

Yes, unfortunately. Some could argue that autism effects some people this way; SEVERE autism perhaps;
But mostly I think people aren't born like this, they have over the years seared their conscience with extreme selfishness.