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filmfann's avatar

How would a sociopath respond to a Voight-Kamph test?.

Asked by filmfann (52515points) August 7th, 2021

In Blade Runner, Deckard uses a Voight-Kampff test to determine if the subject is an replicant. It does this by measuring empathy.
Would a sociopath be measurable?

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5 Answers

flutherother's avatar

It is assumed in the film that the Voight-Kamph test is completely accurate and if you fail the test you are by definition a replicant. The questions are very peculiar and don’t just test for empathy but for memory and imagination and goodness knows what else. The questions are considered too subtle to be faked and the results cannot be questioned. If you fail the test, you are a replicant. That is in fact the definition of a replicant.

downtide's avatar

The article quoted by @raum makes a point that I disagree with:

“Note that a functioning sociopath or psychopath (one with sufficient empathy to get along in society) would still show up as human.”

A functioning sociopath or psychopath doesn’t function in society because they have “sufficient empathy”. They function because they are able and willing to fake it. The functioning psychopath can answer the questions themselves in a “human” way but they can’t fake the biological response (like dilation of the eye for example) any more than a replicant can.

So I think that they absolutely would fail the Voight-Kampf test.

tinyfaery's avatar

Holy shit, it’s @downtide.

downtide's avatar

@tinyfaery I’ve been back about 2–3 weeks :)

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