Young Jung

U Write 1103
October 31, 2014

Creating a fake Personality

What if people told you that you couldnt feel love, hate, or the simple satisfaction
of affection? What if people told you that you cant feel emotion and they were right?
What would you do? As the world passes you with smiles, tears, and laughter. Telling
you thats what youre doing is wrong and unfair but to you nothing is wrong and nothing
is right. This seems likes a confusing world where functioning in groups and social
outings will be impossible. But this is the world of a sociopath because sociopaths have
the tendencies to lose their sense of right and wrong. One fictional character embodies
how this world seems and that character is Dexter the main character of the hit TV show
Dexter. Dexter is a Miami homicide blood splatter analyst with a need to kill but in order
to quench his thirst for blood he has to find a alternative way to kill and not get caught
this is the true face of a sociopath.
Since the research of mental disorders and the use of the word sociopaths in the
1930s people have discussed what it has meant to be a sociopath. One of the Key factors
that define an individual as a sociopath is the lack of emotion and the lack of moral
standards. But Dexter finds a way to help guide him through life even with his lack of
emotions Dexter is able to slide through life without raising suspicions form his friends,
family, or even his coworkers. The way that Dexter deals with the lack of social norms is
by creating a false set of rules or morals that he has set for himself to believe. While he

still doesn't see murder as a moral wrong Dexter still have stipulations for the people that
he brings to justice. While Dexter doesn't seem to have the emotions and a code of ethics
he is still able to follow a set of rules that he has deemed right and fair. Dexter also
notices that he is able to connect with other people while following these fake ethical
codes. He seems to normalize more as he follows the code and refers to the code. If a
sociopath is able to create a fake set of ethical guidelines and make emotional
connections with other people are they really mentally ill? Do they just need influential
people that are able to teach them this code that will help them feel what everyone else is
able to feel?
There might be other stipulations that say that Dexter is a different case and that
not everyone can learn these codes and promise to abide by them. But as people there are
ways to help sociopaths function in social situations without the need to isolate them
from others. While sociopaths are known to function with out emotion or a sense of right
or wrong. There are different things that show that they are able to function normally and
have connections with peoples even though the general public thinks differently.
While Dexter is a unique individual there is something that we must understand
about Dexter as a sociopath. As a character Dexter changes through out the course of the
TV show as it demonstrates how he Implements Harrys code and how Dexter create
relationships based of his fake personality and morals (Jung, Assignment 1). Through
out the TV show Dexter portrays a fully functioning sociopath within society and how his
actions with other characters as well as his behaviors represent the general sociopathic
community (Minor, Dissecting Dexter). Another thing to note is why Dexter kills people
that he deems not worthy. Dexters reason to kill is not influenced my religion or science

Dexter kills for a different reason. Dexter is unable to stop killing because there is
something inside of him that keeps bringing him back to kill and kill again so he accepts
that its never going away and uses it for the good of mankind by following his code of
ethics (Gleiser, Dexters Killer commentary on science and religion).
Within my research dealing with sociopath and other mentally crippling
disordering. There has been arguments dealing with whether or not the code of ethics that
Dexter has created for himself is actually something that sociopath should be able to do.
Pertaining to Dexter question arose on whether Dexter is a Protagonist or an Antagonist.
Some thing that cannot be ignored is that Dexter was born into violence and was born in
the blood of his own mother and has the urge to kill and instead of being a menace to
society he deals with it in a way that will help other (Santaularia, Dexter: Villain, Hero or
Simply a Man?). This shows that even as a sociopathic killer Dexter can be accepted by
the masses. As well Dexter can be related by may different people and share a common
ground with everyone including the struggles that he faces internally as well as external
factors that affect Dexter in a negative way (Brooks, Letters: The Gender Card and
'Dexter). Because people can connect to Dexter he is looked upon as a hero that everyone
wants to say no to but cant because deep inside everyone loves what Dexter Morgan is
doing and the change he makes in the world. Dexter Morgan is the embodiment of
peoples desire to get rid of the terrible things in the world and gives people a sense of
connection with a common goal to get rid of unpleasant and terrible things. Many
different people idolize Dexter Morgan even through his methods are questionable and
gruesome it makes a bold point for people trying make a difference in the world. Dexter
seems like and antagonist that everyone will call a hero (Donnelly, Dexter New American

Hero). The reason that Dexter is portrayed as a protagonist is because there is a crucial
point that differentiates Dexter from other sociopathic killer. The difference is that Dexter
has some sort of ethics that he has to follow this is what makes Dexter someone to idolize
to while others such as the zodiac killer is someone to apprehend.
This Brings up another point that killing is still a crime why do we still idolize
someone that is still a sociopathic murder? While Dexter is still a murder he is still a
sociopath as well while normal individuals do not desire to kill anyone Dexter still has
these blood soaked urges to take the life of someone else. Instead of letting Dexter roam
around Kill innocent people like most serial killers he is constrained by the Code of
Harry or his artificial code of ethics. The code that Dexter follows is based on the
teachings of his father and was a way for Dexter to kill and subdue the urge while
benefiting the general public without causing harm to innocent people. Following this
rule Dexter picks out killers that he has proven that are guilty and removes them from the
world. While Harrys code does not completely eliminate the use of murder it channels it
into a positive direction that will help society more than it damages it (Tryer, The ethics
of killing). Dexter has always had the urge to kill and this urge is a good thing because he
is ridding the world of evil by finding a more socially acceptable way of dealing with his
urge to kill. The urge to kill or the dark passenger that Dexter likes to refer it to is a way
that Dexter can continue to do what he does with a reason (Ioannidou, Making Heros out
of serial killers). This is how Dexter implements his artificial code of ethics into his life.
Through out the history sociopaths has been looked at as a mental disorder that
impairs an individual from functioning as a normal productive member of society. This is
because of the pre-conceived notions that since sociopaths and psychopaths do not have a

sense of ethical morals. While not being able to tell the difference between right and
wrong seems like a crucial part in becoming functioning member of society in reality
many are able to function without the need of a conscious. While sociopaths are unable
to feel compassion for others this does not ruin their chances to become a member of
society because they are still able to follow rules and regulations that are set for them
even though they do not feel any emotional attachment to these rules. There are ways that
sociopaths can function in the normal world as long as they are able to create their own
code of ethics.
Everyone sees sociopaths as a danger to everyone around them and only see them
as serial killer or mentally disturbed individuals due to current social media. Somethings
that people dont know is that not all sociopaths are delusional serial killers. The TV
show Dexter is a great representation of what sociopaths are actually like in the real
world. While the news only focuses on the ones that end up doing something terrible they
dont inform the general public about how sociopaths are actually like. Sociopaths are
usually charming and very likable people that are able to maintain a normal job without
being questioned. This is very well portrayed in the TV show Dexter, as Dexter is able to
maintain a normal job as a Miami homicide blood splatter analyst while being a
sociopath. Also within Dexter he is able to make friends and relationships even without
the need for an emotional connection. This brings me to my next point the only reason
that Dexter is able to maintain this appeal because Dexter has a set of rules that he
follows in order for him to continue his every day life.
While sociopaths are unable to feel compassion for others this does not mean they
are unable to differentiate right from wrong. That is because they can create their own

code of ethics they can create rules that they will follow. While this doesn't seem like
something that would happen but studies have shown that even though someone that is
diagnosed as a sociopath they do follow a set of rules that they have deemed right from
wrong. Within the show Dexter while his morals are off base of what society deems as
right Dexter still has a set of rules and stipulations that he follows. Dexters rules are
rules that help him decide who to kill in order to fulfill his need to kill. By following
these rules that Dexter likes to call the Code of Harry he is able to get rid of killers that
have escaped the law without having to kill innocent people. While murder is still
frowned upon Dexter is able to release his urges based on an artificial code that his father
Harry had created for him while growing up. Showing that sociopaths are able to follow
some sort of rule that stops then from committing crimes and doing Bad deeds.
While people might believe that there is no way to change a psychopath or a
sociopath there are way to keep them from endangering other. By creating a set of rules
or ethical boundaries that they can understand and follow will help then decipher right
from wrong as well as help create connections with other people. While they might lack
an emotional connect with others they will still function as normal member of society. If
sociopaths are able to function in a normal social situation and able to maintain a job
while not committing any crimes then they are just the same as any other non-sociopathic
individuals.
Even though sociopaths have a negative reputation there are fully functioning
sociopaths out in the real world. Where they have a set code of ethics as well as a definite
sense of right and wrong. They are also able to create relationships by following these

made up moral code. Eventually Sociopaths will be able to live a normal life by adopting
an artificial sense of compassion.
While Sociopaths such as Dexter are unable to feel emotion or a general sense of
right and wrong they are able to function as members of society. By creating a false set of
rules that they have implemented as musts instead of optional rules such as social norms.
While Dexter is a fictional character from a hit HBO TV show the idea of implementing
artificial morals to sociopaths is a great way to let sociopaths becoming a functioning
member of society. While Dexter takes it to the extreme regular sociopaths can be
conditioned into acting certain way in different social situations even though they do not
feel required. If this can be implemented they can help release completely normal patients
from mental hospitals, which in turn will help reduce the amount that the government is
spending on institutionalized spending on prisons and mental institutions. Less spending
in turn will lead to a healthier economy as well as more active members of society that
will contribute to the county. But with this there is always the few that become more
dangerous and are the ones that need to institutionalize. A world where sociopaths can
become normal members in a society is great but what about the other mental disorders.
Are there any ways to cure psychosis? Or help create for a schizophrenic to maintain a
job or a relationship without the need of heavy medication? There are mental disorders
are affecting the world in a negative way and there has to be a solution to solve these
problems.

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Brooks, Anthony. "Letters: The Gender Card and 'Dexter'" NPR. NPR, 13 Nov. 2007.
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Santaularia, Isabel. "Dexter: Villain, Hero or Simply a Man? The Perpetuation of
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