Philippe Pinel once described psychopathy as “insanity without delirium.” Meanwhile, other psychologists refer to them as “morally insane, which is considered by many pure evil” (Jones 2011). Psychopaths are psychologically classified as having a lack of remorse or shame, being pathological liars, failing to follow a life plan, relatively unresponsive in general interpersonal relations, insincere, and fail to learn from experiences (Hirstein, 2013). For years psychologists chose to push off the idea of psychopathy, as they believed it was an incurable condition that could only be worsened by therapy. Tests and studies are run often to discover the genetic trait in a psychopaths mind in an attempt to discover where it comes from and how to control it, appropriately.
Robert Hare created the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) to accurately classify the “common” psychopath (Hare, 1991). This test consists of questions hat spot out less obvious signs of psychopathy. The checklist divides individuals in to two groups, Factor 1 and Factor 2. Participants who find themselves in the Facto 1 group tend to be more interpersonal, they have a superficial charm, are cunning or manipulative, and are described as glib. The Factor 2 group has a need for stimulation, more prone to becoming bored, and tends to be impulsive (Blair 2001).
With the a better understanding of the condition psychologists are wanting to know if its genetic. Prior testing has put emphasis on the amygdala. The amygdala is a part of the brain that controls fear, distress, sadness and other major emotions. (Blair 2001). Psychologists believe the impairment of the amygdala is a direct cause of psychopathy as it affects their sense of emotion. With use of volumetr...
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...sychopaths. Likely, their childhood was not interrupted by any major incidents that would have varied over and affected their brain function or increased their psychopathic traits.
Psychopathy continues to bring about new studies and challenges for researchers. From the PCL-R by Hare to the MRI’s conducted in labs psychiatrists continue to learn more about the brain and its effects on psychopathy. A damaged amygdala is a large part of the lack of emotion but does not seem to be an inheritable deficiency. The under aroused amygdala continues to raise questions for researchers but is a start to learning more about psychopathy in the brain. Some individuals manage to live with this condition and still maintain simple, non-criminalistics lives, though they still lack a sense of remorse. It is a genetic mishap, but a manageable lifestyle with proper maturation.
Psychopathy has fascinated the public for years due to the gruesome and evil portrayal it has received in the media. Psychopathy is defined in the DSM-III as a personality disorder characterized by enduring antisocial behavior, diminished empathy and remorse, and disinhibited or bold behavior (Patrick, Christopher, Fowles, Krueger, Rober, 2009). Psychopathy represents a cluster of different dimensions of personality found amongst the general population to varying degrees (Patrick et al, 2009). The diagnostic definition is meant to be applied to adults, however psychopathology can occur in children. Controversy surrounds the topic of childhood mental illness because the brain is not fully developed until the age of 18; thus allowing the possibility that symptoms are the result of growing up and will change. The triarchic model, formulated by Christopher J. Patrick, is the most commonly used model in diagnosing adult and childhood psychopathy. This model suggests that different conceptions of psychopathy emphasize three observable characteristics to varying degrees; boldness, disinhibition and meanness (Patrick, et al, 2009). Boldness is the first observable characteristic and is comprised of low fear including stress-tolerance, toleration of unfamiliarity and danger, and high self-confidence and social assertiveness. Disinhibition; characterized by poor impulse control including problems with planning and foresight, lacking affect and urge control, demand for immediate gratification, and poor behavioral restraints. Meanness is defined as lacking empathy and close attachments with others, disdain of close attachments, use of cruelty to gain empowerment, exploitative tendencies, defiance of authority, and destructive excitement seek...
Are psychopaths like Alice, “mad or bad?” (page 21). The question whether psychopaths are mentally ill or just a bad seed has caused much debate. Dr. Hare explains that the problem is not only labeling them mad or bad, but who deals with them. “Does the treatment or control of the psychopath rightly fall to mental health professionals or to the correctional system?” (page 21). Not only are professionals confused on how to classify psychopaths, but the media also creates confusion. Psychopath means mental illness and the media uses the word to classify someone as, “insane or crazy”, (page 22). Dr. Hare explains that even though psychopaths, “cannot be understood in terms of traditional views of mental illness”, they, “are not disoriented or out of touch with reality, nor do they experience the delusions, hallucinations, or intense subjective distress that characterize most other mental disorders…psychopaths are rational and aware of what they are doing and why.” (page 22). Most professionals use the term psychopath and sociopath as one in the same. Since DSM-III, antisocial personality disorder has been used in place of psychopath and sociopath. Philippe Pinel was the first psychiatrist describe a psychopath and Harvey Cleckley was one of the first successful publish a book describing a psychopath to the general public . Pinel used the term, “insanity without delirium”, (page 25). Cleckley wrote The Mask of Sanity, which influenced researchers in North America. Dr. Robert Hare explained that WWII was the first time clinicians felt a need to diagnosis people with psychopathy. Due to the draft, there was a need to weed out the people could disrupt or harm the military structure. Dr. Robert Hare realized how hard it was to identify a true psychopaths from rule breakers and developed the Psychopathy Checklist. This checklist is used world wide to help clinicians identify true
Kiehl’s (2006) literature review continues with this idea of amygdala implication in psychopathic traits by saying that the amygdala, in particular o...
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry is a book by Jon Ronson, where he investigates the idea of psychopathy and the many individuals involved. Psychopathy is defined as “a person who is mentally ill, who does not care about other people, and who is usually dangerous or violent.” Ronson visited mental health professionals and psychopaths in order to determine the right way to control the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Throughout the novel, Ronson focuses on three main themes, which are the definition of madness, unnecessary mental diagnoses and the problem with confirmation bias.
Nature refers, in this case, to how the subject is genetically made-up. It is the belief of many researchers that damage to the brain or front lobe causes the violent behavior demonstrated by serial killers. The frontal lobe is in charge of social relations and maintaining adequate relationships with others. Damage to the temporal lobe can result in hair-trigger violent reactions and increased aggressive responses. Damage to the limbic system can also be a cause of serial killers’ ‘dysfunction’. The limbic system controls emotional responses and motivation. MRI scans of known serial killers show damage to the limbic system, or inactivity. When the limbic brain is damaged, it may account for uncontrollable aggression.
What causes psychopathy? This has been a major concern for many researchers. Research on psychopathy has sparked a debate that has been existent for years, which is the nature versus nurture debate. The proponents of both sides have each put forward credible evidences to support their positions. Proponents of the nature theory believe that psychopathy is innate. They hold the belief that psychopaths are born with the disorder. Hence, psychopathy is influenced by biological and hereditary factors. In contrast, opponents of the nature theory believe that a person’s personal experiences are the reasons for his or her exhibition of psychopathic characteristics. That is, a person with a defective childhood has a very high probability of displaying
There have been many studies on what behaviors constitute psychopathy. Various Studies have shown that an individual’s behavior must include actions such as hostility to animals or people, ruin to possessions, dishonesty or larceny, and grave violations of rules, as well as a clinically defined impairment of an individual’s social, educational, or employment-related purposes. In order for an individual to be found to be presenting such a disorder, he or she must present with a minimum of at least one of the previous mention behaviors in the past six months, or three plus in a twelve-month timeframe (Mueller III, 2012). Individuals present with psychopathic propensity or psychopathy have a tendency to have a decreased aptitude to name apprehensive facial expressions and a frightened vocal change. An out of...
Identifying the mystery of the psychopath can prove to help the them and the general public. Early awareness of the common psychopaths among us will reduce the impact on society. Further research is still needed to better help the psychopath and the general population.
A child or an adolescent being diagnosed with psychopathy is a controversial concept and yet there are a number of studies that purport to assess psychopathic traits within these groups. This has stemmed from evidence that key symptoms of psychopathy (at least when looking into the histories of adult psychopathic patients) have been indicative of an early onset with symptoms beginning in childhood or early adolescence. (Johnstone & Cooke, 2004). Psychopathy, at least in adults, is a viable construct and is often indicative of criminality, violence, substance abuse and results in decidedly poorer responsivity to treatment and as such highlights the importance of recognizing these early symptoms and planning intervention and treatment strategies. (Johnstone & Cooke, 2004; Skeem, Monahan, & Mulvey, 2003; Hempill, Hare, & Wong, 1998; Salekin, Rogers & Sewell, 1996).
According to research, psychopathic behavior can take many forms not all of which are violent. Ultimately psychiatrists say that there are pieces of a brain’s emotional machinery missing. As a result making psychopaths lack empathy, guilt or the ability to simply sow remorse (180rule.com). In an interview with James Fallon, a neuroscientist and neuroanatomist, states that there isn’t an acceptable definition of the word, psychopaths and that some psychologists do not even recognize it as a syndrome (Flatow). The closest way to identify a psychopath is through the Psychopathy Checklist – Revised, commonly known as the PCL-R (Hare). This test is used to determine if an individual has a mid- psychopathic disturbance, moderate psychopathic disturbance or if they are psychopathic (Brinkley). The test is scored on a 3 point scale (0, 1, and 2) with the highest score being a 40 which denotes a prototypical psychopath (Hare). When an individual scores a 30 or above it will qualify the individu...
A psychopath is someone who is unable to live harmoniously in society due to their profound lack of compassion, empathy, conscience, and remorse (Hare, 1993). Many psychopathic symptoms have been proposed to result from cognitive and emotional processing impairments. The concept of a psychopath is often of a ruthless and dangerous criminal, an image commonly depicted in the media and film. Though psychopaths do make up an estimated 40% of dangerous offenders in Canada, it is the non-violent manipulators and cheaters, like white-collar criminals and unethical business people, who can have the most impact on the general population (Bonta & Motiuk; 1996, Hare, 1993). Therefore, understanding the cognitive bases and development of psychopathy can allow exploration into possible interventions and treatments, as well as identifying measures for use in diagnosing psychopathy in childhood and adolescence. Additionally, the deciphering of abnormal processes can give insight into normal functioning, thus helping to expand current knowledge. This paper reviews conclusions that processing of
...res of the psychopaths and gives the reader various examples of these individuals playing out these characteristics in everyday life. A widely used checklist is provided so the reader can get a wide spanning view of what is accounted for when scoring a psychopath. This form of research is very important within the deceitfulness of this population; it allows the professional to ignore their words and examine their actions. Hare made it clear that it is not uncommon for there to be an emotional and verbal disconnect from their actions. With virtually no emotional functioning psychopaths feel no remorse for the offenses that they commit and it is very important that we work towards using the opportunities we have to study and assist these populations; not only for them but for ourselves.
The media most often showcases psychopaths as individuals who are inherently evil and dangerous towards themselves and others. Yet, this concept of psychopathy goes far beyond this idea of pure evil and instead necessitates a needed psychological understanding. These individuals, psychopaths, are generally characterized by a lack of empathy and conscience. Indeed, psychopath’s indifference to the repercussions of their actions combined with other characteristics such as hostility and aggression make for a potentially dangerous personality (Lyken, 1996, p.30). In order to identify a psychopath’s recidivism, it is important to differentiate them from sociopaths who, instead of having a psychological impairment that makes it difficult for them to socialize, have been systematically under socialized (Lyken, 1996, p.30). In accordance. psychologists have developed the methods such as the Psychopathy Checklist- Revised (PCL-R) to help identify those with psychopathic tendencies (Walters, 2012, p.409). That is why predictions of recidivism among psychopaths is most efficient when done
Contrary to the movie industry’s portrayal of psychopaths, rarely do psychopaths come out in the open and kill their victims with chainsaws or wear disturbing masks. Nor do they act menacing or evil out in public. Rather, most psychopaths attempt to blend into society. A psychopath can be defined as one who uses superficial charm and manipulation to achieve his or her goals, even if it involves committing crimes. They can act quickly and feel neither remorse for committing the crime nor empathy for their unsuspecting victim. As much as they attempt to blend in, psychopaths are unable to fully function in society because they lack some qualities of a “normal” person. In the medical field, psychopathy is not recognized as a disorder. In fact, Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary defines psychopathy as an “obsolete term” (Venes and Taber 1372). In an effort to define psychopathy, multiple psychiatrists attempted to describe i...
What we were interested in is to gauge if the presence of the Psychopathic trait in individuals coincided with similar levels of the other two traits. To prove that the other two traits can be used to predict psychopathy, we needed at least correlation in any or both of the other traits and the absence of a high negative correlation with any of the traits. A measures of between 0 and 0.3 signify a low correlation, while figures those between 0.3 and 0.5 signify mid correlation. A figure between 0.5 and 1 indicates a high correlation (Andale, 2012). The –ve or +ve sign before the figure indicates whether it is a negative correlation or positive correlation respectively.