800 words essay

After reading the chapter, students should be able to:

1. Present a special type of offender (the criminal psychopath) who is different emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally from other offenders.

2. Describe the various measures of psychopathy.

3. Explain the neurobiological aspects of psychopathy.

4. Discuss the evidence for juvenile psychopathy.

The primary psychopath, a clinical designation attributed to psychologist Robert Hare, demonstrates a variety of behavioral and neurophysiological characteristics that differentiates him or her from other groups of individuals. Psychopaths most often function in society as charming, daring, witty, intelligent individuals, high on charisma but low on emotional reaction and affect. They appear to lack moral standards or to manifest genuine sensitivity toward others. Primary psychopaths should be distinguished from people who are psychotic, neurotic, or emotionally disturbed. They also should be distinguished from sociopaths, who are similar in many ways, as well as from individuals with an antisocial personality disorder. As noted in the chapter, though, psychopathy and APD have become almost indistinguishable in much of the literature. Hare has proposed the term criminal psychopath to describe those psychopaths who persistently and repetitively violate the law. In this sense, the criminal psychopath, the sociopath, and the individual with an antisocial personality disorder are similar in their offending patterns.

Neurophysiological research suggests that psychopaths are different from the rest of the population on a number of physiological measures. They seem to be underaroused, both autonomically and cortically, a finding that may account for their difficulty in learning the rules of society. There is some evidence to suggest that with adequate incentives, psychopaths may learn societal expectations very well, but for the most part the treatment research in this area is quite pessimistic.

Contemporary researchers have devised a large number of psychological measures to assess the presence of psychopathy in specific populations. In addition, current research has focused on juvenile psychopathy and, to a lesser extent, on gender differences in psychopathy. Studies of the psychopath’s childhood indicate commonalities that suggest it can be identified early. However, the topic of juvenile psychopathy is extremely controversial. Some researchers believe the construct does not exist, others believe it is inappropriately measured, and many if not most are concerned about the effects of attaching a pessimistic label to juveniles. Research on female psychopaths suggests that male and female psychopaths do not differ significantly on behavioral characteristics, though there is slightly more emphasis among females on sexual acting-out behavior. This probably reflects a cultural bias, however, since women have been traditionally chastised more than men for behavior deemed inappropriate according to sexual mores.

It should be noted that students are often so fascinated with the construct of psychopathy that they tend to see psychopaths everywhere around them. Likewise, estimates of psychopathy, even in incarcerated populations, should be made very guardedly. A major objective of the chapter is to present psychopathy as a neurologically-based clinical construct, characteristic of a very small percentage of the population, and one that continues to attract considerable research attention.

What is a Psychopath?

Hare’s distinctions

Primary psychopath

The “true” psychopath

Secondary psychopath

Emotional problems, inner conflicts

Dissocial psychopath—

Earned antisocial behavior

Antisocial personality disorder (APD)

Distinct but very similar

An Example of a Psychopath

Demara, the “great impostor”

No violent crime, though many psychopaths do commit them

Behavioral Descriptions

Research by Quay, Cleckley, Hare

Charming and verbally fluent

Psychopaths and mental disorders

Not mentally disordered by traditional standard

Psychological testing differences; score high

Psychopaths and suicide

Other principal traits

Flat emotional reactions, inability to give affection, superficial emotions,

disregard for truth

Alcohol, even in small amounts, prompts vulgarity, loud and boisterous behavior

Cardinal trait is lack of remorse or guilt, semantic aphasia

Excessive use of instrumental aggression

If criminal, typically impulsive acts

Disagreement regarding mental disorder

Neuropsychological need for stimulation

The Criminal Psychopath

Psychopaths who demonstrate wide range of persistent and serious behavior

Prevalence

Offending patterns

Dispassionate violence

Sex crimes of psychopaths more brutal, sadistic than other sex offenders

Serial murderers with psychopathic features: brutal and sadistic

More likely than other murderers to kill strangers

Psychological Measures of Psychopathy

Psychopathy Checklist (PCL)

Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV)

Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV)

P-Scan: Research Version

Core factors of Psychopathy

Factor analysis

Two behavioral dimensions, possibly three

Factor 1

Interpersonal and emotional components

Factor 2

Socially deviant lifestyle

The three factor position

Cooke and Michie

The four dimensions position

Antisocial behavior

Recidivism

Recidivism defined

Reoffend faster and violate parole sooner than nonpsychopaths

The Female Psychopath

Little research directed at women

Prevalence low compared with males

May be behavioral differences

Less violent and aggressive; lower in recidivism

Sexual misconduct, but may reflect cultural biases

Racial/Ethnic Differences

Most research on white subjects

Some research suggests African American less impulsive

Other research: no significant racial differences

Label may be used in biased manner against minority/disadvantaged

Controversial in death penalty cases

Juvenile Psychopathy

Rapid surge of research interest

Extremely controversial; construct may not exist in juveniles

Can juvenile psychopathy be identified?

Psychopathic qualities often “normal” adolescent development

Term “psychopathic-like tendencies” preferred

Instruments developed specifically for pre-adult psychopathy

Ethical considerations:

Juveniles may be transferred to criminal courts

Treatment believed futile

Psychopath traits in juvenile delinquents

Measures of juvenile psychopathy

PSD, CPS, YPI, PCL:YV

Biological Factors and Psychopathy

Genetic factors

Neurophysiology and psychopathy

Markers

Basic neurophysiological concepts and terminology

Central nervous system (CNS) differences

Hemisphere asymmetry and deficiency

Left-hemisphere activation hypothesis

Deficits on tasks associated with left-hemisphere

Emotional paradox

Frontal neuropsychological studies

Executive functions

Amygdale dysfunction

Stimulation seeking

Optimal arousal of the cerebral cortex

Role of the RAS

Excessive habituation

Peripheral nervous system research

Skeletal and autonomic nervous system

Psychopaths difficulty with avoidance learning

Childhood of the Psychopath

Common precursors in family backgrounds

No strong genetic influence, but may have a biological predisposition

Social factors play major role

Neglect, abuse, antipathy or indifference

Negative school experiences

Impulsivity, inattention, conduct problems

Similarity to backgrounds of LCPs

Treatment of Psychopaths

Treatment of children and adolescents with psychopathic features