Christopher Dorner, the fugitive ex-Los Angeles cop who had declared "war" on the LAPD, is not a sociopath, psychologists said.

Dorner's spree of violence, which appears to have ended Tuesday with the discovery of a charred body after a shootout and fire at a Big Bear Lake cabin, may seem consistent with the definition of a sociopath -- a person who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. He was accused of killing a retired captain's daughter and her fiance in Irvine, Calif., and shooting multiple cops in Riverside and Big Bear, killing two.

Dorner had written in his manifesto that he was motivated by a sense of right and wrong -- exactly what a sociopath lacks. The ex-cop wrote that his murderous spree was a "last resort" to expose corruption and racism within the LAPD and to restore his name after that corruption led to his firing in 2008.

Thousands of online fans had come to see Dorner as their "Dark Knight" fighting evil -- although many disavowed murder as a means to that end.

"While this man's actions are unthinkable and inexcusable, he does not fit the profile of a sociopath, who lacks the capacity for empathy and has no respect for social morals and norms," said Elizabeth Waterman, a psychologist in Newport Beach, Calif. "Dorner showed that he did care for the welfare of others, and, as a police officer, worked to protect the rights of others on a daily basis.

"In fact, his recent actions were his very misguided and desperate attempts to stand up for what is right and fight for justice," Waterman said. "I think Mr. Dorner's actions reflected a deep level of desperation to right a wrong and shed light on a justice system that has many, many flaws."

Dorner's empathetic beliefs went beyond victims of police brutality and corruption. According to his manifesto, his empathy led him to fervently defend the rights of gays and lesbians and to stand up against anti-Semitism, psychologist Izzy Kalman pointed out in Psychology Today.

Sociopathy, an antisocial personality disorder, is marked by being manipulative or exploitative of others. Those traits don't align with Dorner's rigid view and moral standards.

So what went wrong?

Dorner did not know how to cope in a world where right sometimes does not prevail over wrong. "He's a child," said Bob Tur, a private investigator who has found over 20 fugitives. "Children see things like right and wrong in black and white. But as life beats you down, you live in gray areas. You realize that fairness is an abstract thought."

Kalman said this rigid view of a world where right is always supposed to prevail leads to a victimization mentality. Most violence -- by criminals and by countries headed to war -- is committed not by people who feel like bullies, but by those who feel like victims, Kalman said.

"We all become sociopathic when we feel victimized," Kalman said. "Our conscience gets flushed down the drain. We feel like we are the good guys, the innocent victims, and they are the bad guys, the bullies -- and bullies, as we have been taught, are not to be tolerated."

So, Kalman said, "We pick up guns and tell our bullies, 'Hasta la vista, baby!'"

Kalman's solution is to stop "teaching children … that we are entitled to a life in which no one disrespects us … that our emotional pain is other people’s fault."

Other experts hypothesized that Dorner may have lost his ability to live in an unjust world because of post-traumatic stress disorder. Although he was not a combat soldier, Dorner served in the Navy in the Middle East and claimed in his manifesto that he suffered traumatic head injuries during his service.

Kathy Platoni, a psychologist for the U.S. Army Reserve, said Dorner does not fit the description of a person with an antisocial personality disorder. Though there "may be a connection between diminished self-control and increased aggression in those diagnosed with PTSD, … it rarely leads to violence, especially of this magnitude," she said.

Dorner may have suffered from manifested rage resulting from depression or "maladaptive behaviors" because he "perceives the world around [him] and everyone in it as the problem," Dr. Platoni said. "There is certainly a paranoid flavor to his manifesto and his behavior patterns," she added.

Others said Dorner's violence resulted neither from his mental state nor his view of the world.

"The poor and downtrodden, who have suffered unending, unspeakable abuse, … their internal lives are saturated in rage and a sense of utter helplessness," said Erika Sloane, a psychologist in Los Angeles. "I do not see this as a reflection of individual failings or 'mental illness.' I see the rage as a response to our increasingly corrupt, unjust, unresponsive culture."

Related on HuffPost:

Click through below to see the main messages of Dorner's manifesto:

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• Declaration Of War

  The Violence of action will be HIGH. I am the reason TAC alert was established. I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty. ISR is my strength and your weakness. You will now live the life of the prey. Your RD's and homes away from work will be my AO and battle space. I will utilize every tool within INT collections that I learned from NMITC in Dam Neck. You have misjudged a sleeping giant. There is no conventional threat assessment for me. JAM, New Ba'ath party, 1920 rev BGE, ACM, AAF, AQAP, AQIM and AQIZ have nothing on me. Do not deploy airships or gunships. SA-7 Manpads will be waiting. As you know I also own Barrett .50′s so your APC are defunct and futile.

  This will be a war of attrition and a Pyrrhic and Camdean Victory for myself. You may have the resources and manpower but you are reactive and predictable in your op plans and TTP's. I have the strength and benefits of being unpredictable, unconventional, and unforgiving. Do not waste your time with briefs and tabletops.

  emIrvine police Chief David L. Maggard announces at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, in Irvine, Calif., that former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner, whose image is projected at right, behind Maggard, is a suspect in the killings of Monica Quan and her fiance, Keith Lawrence, who were found shot to death in their car at a parking structure Sunday night. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Cindy Yamanaka)/em

• 'You Have Awoken A Sleeping Giant'

  From 2/05 to 1/09 I saw some of the most vile things humans can inflict on others as a police officer in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the streets of LA. It was in the confounds of LAPD police stations and shops (cruisers). The enemy combatants in LA are not the citizens and suspects, it's the police officers.
  People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. How ironic that you utilize a fixed glass structure as your command HQ. You use as a luminous building to symbolize that you are transparent, have nothing to hide, or suppress when in essence, concealing, omitting, and obscuring is your forte.

  Luckily I don't have to live everyday like most of you. Concerned if the misconduct you were apart of is going to be discovered. Looking over your shoulder, scurrying at every phone call from internal affairs or from the Captains office wondering if that is the day PSB comes after you for the suspects you struck when they were cuffed months/years ago or that $500 you pocketed from the narcotics dealer, or when the other guys on your watch beat a transient nearly to death and you never reported the UOF to the supervisor.

  Terminating officers because they expose a culture of lying, racism (from the academy), and excessive use of force will immediately change. PSB can not police their own and that has been proven. The blue line will forever be severed and a cultural change will be implanted. You have awoken a sleeping giant.

  emPolice respond in Riverside, Calif., early Thursday morning, Feb. 7, 2013, after one officer was killed and another critically wounded in a shoot out with a murder suspect. Police were searching for a former Los Angeles police officer sought for two weekend killings , and who threatened to kill police. There were two separate overnight shootings about 60 miles east of Los Angeles in Riverside County that investigators believe involved former LA police officer Christopher Dorner, who's also the main suspect in the weekend killing of a couple whose bodies were found in Irvine. He was fired in 2008 for making false statements. (AP Photo/Kevin Warn)/em

• Police Officers 'Smile' Over Dead Bodies

  Don't honor these fallen officers/dirtbags. When your family members die, they just see you as extra overtime at a crime scene and at a perimeter. Why would you value their lives when they clearly don't value yours or your family members lives? I've heard many officers who state they see dead victims as ATV's, Waverunners, RV's and new clothes for their kids. Why would you shed a tear for them when they in return crack a smile for your loss because of the impending extra money they will receive in their next paycheck for sitting at your loved ones crime scene of 6 hours because of the overtime they will accrue. They take photos of your loved ones recently deceased bodies with their cellphones and play a game of who has the most graphic dead body of the night with officers from other divisions. This isn't just the 20 something year old officers, this is the 50 year old officers with significant time on the job as well who participate.

  emThis photo released by the Irvine Police Department showing what is believe to be the car of Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer. Police have launched a massive manhunt for the former Los Angeles officer suspected of killing a couple over the weekend and opening fire on four officers early Thursday, killing one and critically wounding another, authorities said. ( AP Photo/Irvine Police Dept.)/em

• Message To Deceased's Families

  To those children of the officers who are eradicated, your parent was not the individual you thought they were. As you get older,you will see the evidence that your parent was a tyrant who loss their ethos and instead followed the path of moral corruptness. They conspired to hide and suppress the truth of misconduct on others behalf's. Your parent will have a name and plaque on the fallen officers memorial in D.C. But, In all honesty, your parents name will be a reminder to other officers to maintain the oath they swore and to stay along the shoreline that has guided them from childhood to that of a local, state, or federal law enforcement officer.

  Suppressing the truth will leave to deadly consequences for you and your family. There will be an element of surprise where you work, live, eat, and sleep. I will utilize ISR at your home, workplace, and all locations in between. I will utilize OSINT to discover your residences, spouses workplaces, and children's schools. IMINT to coordinate and plan attacks on your fixed locations. Its amazing whats on NIPR. HUMINT will be utilized to collect personal schedules of targets. I never had the opportunity to have a family of my own, I'm terminating yours. XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and BOR members Look your wives/husbands and surviving children directly in the face and tell them the truth as to why your children are dead.

  emThe amber alert system is used to inform motorists of a manhunt underway for a former Los Angeles officer suspected of going on a killing spree, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 in Riverside, Calif. /em

• 'What Would You Do To Restore Your Name?'

  The question is, what would you do to clear your name?
  Name; A word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to.
  Name Synonyms; reputation, title, appellation, denomination, repute.

  A name is more than just a noun, verb, or adjective. It's your life, your legacy, your journey, sacrifices, and everything you've worked hard for every day of your life as and adolescent, young adult and adult. Don't let anybody tarnish it when you know you've live up to your own set of ethics and personal ethos.

  emThis undated file photo provided by Cal State Fullerton on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, shows Cal State Fullerton assistant women's NCAA college basketball coach Monica Quan in Fullerton, Calif. Quan and her fiance Keith Lawrence were found shot to death Sunday night on the top floor of a parking structure at the complex, police said. Former LAPD officer and U.S. Navy reservist Christopher Jordan Dorner, 33, is a suspect in the killings. (AP Photo/Cal State Fullerton, File)/em

• Advocating Violence For Change

  The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants-TJ. This quote is not directed toward the US government which I fully support 100%. This is toward the LAPD who can not monitor itself.

  emIn this image provided by the Irvine, Calif., Police Department, former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner is shown. A manhunt spread across southern California on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 for Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer, who has threatened to kill police, is being sought in two weekend killings and is a suspect in an overnight shooting that killed one officer and critically wounded another. (AP Photo/Irvine Police Department)/em

• Since Rodney King Days... 'It Has Gotten Worse'

  Sometimes humans feel a need to prove they are the dominant race of a species and they inadvertently take kindness for weakness from another individual. You chose wrong.

  The department has not changed since the Rampart and Rodney King days. It has gotten worse. The consent decree should never have been lifted. The only thing that has evolved from the consent decree is those officers involved in the Rampart scandal and Rodney King incidents have since promoted to supervisor, commanders, and command staff, and executive positions.

  Are you aware that an officer (a rookie/probationer at the time) seen on the Rodney King videotape striking Mr. King multiple times with a baton on 3/3/91 is still employed by the LAPD and is now a Captain on the police department? Captain XXXX is now the commanding officer of a LAPD police station (West LA division). As a commanding officer, he is now responsible for over 200 officers.

  emSan Diego police officers and federal agents occupy the gate to the Point Loma Naval facility in San Diego Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 during a manhunt for former Los Angeles officer Christopher Dorner in San Diego. Dorner is suspected of shooting two LAPD officers who were sent to Corona to protect someone Dorner threatened in a rambling online manifesto. Thousands of police officers throughout Southern California and Nevada searched for Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer who was angry over his firing and began a deadly shooting rampage that he warned in an online posting would target those on the force who wronged him. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)/em

• 'Not A F*cking Christian'

  He then for some unknown reason swatted me for striking XXXX in response to him calling me a nigger. He stated as good Christians we are to turn the other cheek as Jesus did. Problem is, I'm not a fucking Christian and that old book, made of fiction and limited non-fiction, called the bible, never once stated Jesus was called a nigger.

  emA bullet-damaged Los Angeles Police vehicle is taped off by police on Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Corona, Calif. Christopher Dorner is suspected of the shooting of two LAPD officers who were sent to Corona to protect someone Dorner threatened in a rambling online manifesto. Thousands of police officers throughout Southern California and Nevada hunted Thursday for Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer who was angry over his firing and began a deadly shooting rampage that he warned in an online posting would target those on the force who wronged him. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)/em

• 'I Found My Calling In Life'

  No one grows up and wants to be a cop killer. It was against everything I've ever was. As a young police explorer I found my calling in life. But, As a young police officer I found that the violent suspects on the street are not the only people you have to watch. It is the officer who was hired on to the department (pre-2000) before polygraphs were standard for all new hires and a substantial vetting in a backround investigation.

  emLos Angeles Police Public Information officers: Sara Faden, left, and Officer Norma Eisenman carry photos of suspect Christopher Dorner during a news conference at the LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. Police launched a massive manhunt for Dorner , the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of going on a killing spree, slaying a couple over the weekend, opening fire on two Los Angeles officers early Thursday and then ambushing two other police officers, killing one. At left, Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)/em

• Christopher DornerNon-White Officers: You're A Target

  Those Caucasian officers who join South Bureau divisions (77th,SW,SE, an Harbor) with the sole intent to victimize minorities who are uneducated, and unaware of criminal law, civil law, and civil rights. You prefer the South bureau because a use of force/deadly force is likely and the individual you use UOF on will likely not report it. You are a high value target.

  Those Black officers in supervisory ranks and pay grades who stay in south bureau (even though you live in the valley or OC) for the sole intent of getting retribution toward subordinate caucasians officers for the pain and hostile work environment their elders inflicted on you as probationers (P- 1′s) and novice P-2's. You are a high value target. You perpetuated the cycle of racism in the department as well. You breed a new generation of bigoted caucasian officer when you belittle them and treat them unfairly.

  Those Hispanic officers who victimize their own ethnicity because they are new immigrants to this country and are unaware of their civil rights. You call them wetbacks to their face and demean them in front of fellow officers of different ethnicities so that you will receive some sort of acceptance from your colleagues. I'm not impressed. Most likely, your parents or grandparents were immigrants at one time, but you have forgotten that. You are a high value target.

  Those lesbian officers in supervising positions who go to work, day in day out, with the sole intent of attempting to prove your misandrist authority (not feminism) to degrade male officers. You are a high value target.

  Those Asian officers who stand by and observe everything I previously mentioned other officers participate in on a daily basis but you say nothing, stand for nothing and protect nothing. Why? Because of your usual saying, " I......don't like conflict". You are a high value target as well.

  emA photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows three images of suspect Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer. Police have launched a massive manhunt for the former Los Angeles officer suspected of killing a couple over the weekend and opening fire on four officers early Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, killing one and critically wounding another, authorities said. ( AP Photo/LAPD Police Dept.)/em

• A Message To Journalists

  Journalist, I want you to investigate every location I resided in growing up. Find any incidents where I was ever accused of being a bully. You won't, because it doesn't exist. It's not in my DNA. Never was. I was the only black kid in each of my elementary school classes from first grade to seventh grade in junior high and any instances where I was disciplined for fighting was in response to fellow students provoking common childhood schoolyard fights, or calling me a nigger or other derogatory racial names.

  I ask that all journalist investigating this story submit request for FOIA with the LAPD to gain access to the BOR transcripts which occurred from 10/08 to 2/09. There, you will see that a video was played for the BOR members of Mr. XXXX who suffers from Schizophrenia and Dementia stating that he was kicked by a female officer. That video evidence supports my claim that XXXX kicked him twice in the upper body and once in the face. I would like all journalist to also request copies of all reports that I had written while employed by LAPD. Whether in the academy, or during my 3 years as a police officer. There are DR#'s attached to each report (investigative report) that I have ever written so they all exist. A FOIA request will most likely be needed to access these at Parker center or at the Personnel/Records. Judge my writin/grammar skills for yourself.

  emLos Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck, right, comments on fired officer, Christopher Dorner, Dorner's multiple weapons, including an assault rifle, during a news conference at the LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. Police launched a massive manhunt for a former Los Angeles officer suspected of going on a killing spree, slaying a couple over the weekend, opening fire on two Los Angeles officers early Thursday and then ambushing two other police officers, killing one. At left, Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)/em

• emFired Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer Christopher Dorner seen in an undated photo wearing a military uniform on display at a press conference regarding the manhunt for Dorner, at LADP headquarters in Los Angeles February 7, 2013. Los Angeles police launched a full-scale manhunt for Dorner, a dismissed officer believed to have killed three people including another cop. Christopher Jordan Dorner had posted a chilling online warning about 'terminating' the life of a collegue he blamed for his dismissal, and threatening other police and their families. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)/em