The Cassiopaean Cult

In her post, Terri brought up the concept of projection. She cited an excellent example:
“The skill of guileless cross-examination is the chief tool of the Feminine Vampire, because information is power; when you have information about people, you have a means of exploiting them, which is, after all, the primary objective of the vampire.”

“Now, this is supposedly about Fred, who of course she must constantly dimunitize by calling him “Freddie,” and must constantly present as someone not very masculine. (Because gee Laura, we wouldn’t want anyone to think you found another man attractive, now, would we? LOL)

“Hmmm, haven’t noticed Fred conducting any hypnotherapy sessions, or spirit attachment release sessions, and writing about them in the Wave series without people’s permission. Or starting e-groups which encouraged personal revelations which might then be posted on public pages without the permission of the person whose life it was.

“On the other hand, if you read the whole article as an example of projection run amok, it does tell us quite a bit about Laura.”

Combine that article with http://cassiopaea.org/perseus/psychopath.htm

THE PSYCHOPATH - Alien Reaction Machines) , reading that one also as a pretty scary exercise in projection, and !viola! . . . you have one not-C to keep away from.”

CHARISMATIC PSYCHOPATHS are charming, attractive liars. They are usually gifted at some talent or another, and they use it to their advantage in manipulating others. They are usually fast-talkers, and possess an almost demonic ability to persuade others out of everything they own, even their lives. Leaders of religious sects or cults, for example, might be psychopaths if they lead their followers to their deaths. This subtype often comes to believe in their own fictions. They are irresistible.

This description comes from the webpage cited above by Terri. This is a fairly accurate depiction of Laura. “Charming and attractive liars” certainly fits. She has been caught lying numerous times and simply ignores the contradictions and continues charming her readers. She is gifted, and definitely uses it to manipulate others. See Amazing Grace for the details. She is a fast writer, not necessarily a talker, but she does have that old demonic ability to persuade. And, most important of all, she does truly believe her own fictions to be the Truth…

So, since this description is so exact, why not compare Laura to the rest of the checklist:
Hare’s PCL-R 20-item checklist is based on Cleckley’s 16-item checklist, and the following is a discussion of the concepts in the PCL-R:

1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM - the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.
>> This one fits very closely when you put it in Internet and egroup terms. She is not afraid to say anything and has definitely freed herself from social conventions concerning privacy, good taste and self control.

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH - a grossly inflated view of one’s abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.
>> Only Laura can save the universe by decoding the enigmas given to here by the semi-omniscient Cs. She has no education to speak of yet has rewritten everything from history to geology to match the received wisdom of the Cs.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM - an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self- discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
>> Laura is a drama junkie who must create a new drama every six to eight weeks. These are usually paranoid in nature, or centers around an imagined betrayal by one of her cult members.

4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING - can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
>> Even when she is trying to tell a straight narrative, she can’t help but lie. Why else would you change the Tallahassee story three times in less than two days? Her new version of her interaction with Fred is full of these self-destructive lies, almost as if she can’t help herself.

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one’s victims.
>> Laura’s concerns are all important. If she has to hurt someone, emotional, financially or physically to get what she wants, she will do it apparently with a trace of remorse.

6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT - a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one’s victims.
>> Disdain for her victims shows at every turn in voluminous and ever changing autobiography, Amazing Grace. Lewis Martin, her children, people she has work for or with, all become her victims in one sort or another, and she gloats her way through it all, making it some kind of miraculous sign of entitlement.

7. SHALLOW AFFECT - emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
>> This one can only be judged by close contact, but a glimpse of this shallow emotional texture can be seen in almost every email she writes.

8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY - a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.
>> Clearly demonstrated in many places, see Exorcist in Love for detailed examples.

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE - an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.
>> A history of welfare, SSI and credit card fraud, as well as draining her first husband, her immediate family and selling the family property without permission support this point.

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS - expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.
>> Anyone who has ever crossed Laura and gotten the deluge of emails that results, will clearly understand how this point applies. Her anger is always cosmic and out of proportion to the drama she has created.

11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR - a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.
>> Five children by either three or four individuals, the story changes to suit the audience, seems to indicate that this one applies. There are story of sexual manipulations as well.

12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS - a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.
>> Some indicators here, but nothing conclusive with the evidence available. Amazing Grace does present the reader with a very disturbed little girl who sees lizard faces at the window and is abducted by a step father.

13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS - an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.
>> The job of saving the world is a realistic goal? Laura has actually never been interested in doing anything else. She has no education or traininmg, and has never successfully held a job that she was supported by friends or family.

14. IMPULSIVITY - the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.
>> Very impulsive when crossed, or when an idea has been decreed from the ouiji aliens.

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY - repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.
>> Her list of these is actually too extensive to list. My own encounter with her was strewn with the repeated failure to honor agreements, contracts, etc. all done very deliberately.

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS - a failure to accept responsibility for one’s actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.
>> Laura is Queen of Denial. It is in fact her main manipulative tool. It is always everyone’s fault but her’s…

17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS - a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.
>> She was with Lewis for a long stretch of time, but the relationship was over long before the marriage, according to her. She seems to pick partners on financial need, hers, and neurotic drive to self-destruct, theirs. Lewis escaped, but Ark may be stuck too tight to leave…

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY - behavior problems between the ages of 13- 18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.
>> Assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder at 18 qualifies…

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE - a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.
>> Since she has been clever enough never to get caught, she finally has one point on the checklist that doesn’t apply.

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY - a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.
>> From getting off on an attempted murder charge to various forms of fraud, Laura has shown a decidedly criminal versatility and she has always been proud of it. See Amazing Grace, if you can stomach it, for the details…
So what’s that? 19 out of 20? Maybe, being generous, 17 out of 20?
Is that enough to qualify in the Super Bowl of Psychopaths?

Vincent