CRIM 103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Sensation Seeking, Failure Rate, Psychosis
8 Jun 2018
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! •! Psychopath is not the same as sociopath#
! •! Psychopathy and APD two different things#
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What is psychopathy?#
! •! Used to describe someone who has a cluster of psychological, interpersonal, ad
! ! neurophysiological features that set them aside from general population #
! •! Robert Hare one of worlds leading experts on psychopathy describes them to !
! ! be "social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way !
! ! through life, leaving a broad tail of broken hearts, shattered expectations and !
! ! empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and empathy, they selfishly !
! ! take they want and when they do and violate norms without regrets" #
! •! Three categories of Psychopaths #
!◦!Primary -> "true psychopath" has identifiable psychological, emotional, ! !
! ! cognitive and biological differences that distinguish him or her from general !
! ! population #
!◦!Secondary or neurotic% -> commit antisocial or violent acts due to severe !
! ! emotional problems or inner conflicts #
! •! Sometimes called acting out neurotics, neurotic delinquents, symptomatic !
! ! psychopaths or simply emotionally disturbed offenders #
! •! Most violent and aggressive type of psychopath #
! •! More emotional instability and impulsivity than primary #
! •! Also more rooted in parental abuse and rejection than primary#
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!◦!Dyssocial ->% display aggressive, antisocial behaviour that they’ve learned from !
! ! subculture (gangs, families, terrorist groups ) #
! •! Secondary and dyssocial have little if any behaviour and background similarity !
! ! to primary often confused with primary due to high recidivism #
! •! Psychopathy is not a category but a continuum -> psychopaths differ in degree, !
! ! not kind% #
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Antisocial Personality Disorder #
! •! Not the same as a primary psychopath #
! •! Used to% describe someone who has a "pervasive pattern of disregard for and
violation of the rights of others occurring since age of 15#
!◦!DSM 5 has criteria of 7 of which 3 should be met to diagnose #
!▪!Repetitive lying, impulsiveness, and disregard for the safety of others #
!◦!Must be at least 18 #
!◦!Behavioural problems must be since before 15 #
!◦!Persons with APD would've had CD when they were younger #
! •! APD NOT the same as psychopathy -> apd has narrower definition than
psychopathy #
!◦!APD focuses on behavioral indicators #
%- Psychopathy does not always include behavioral indicators #
! •! APD and psychopathy do not mirror the same psychopathology #
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!◦!Cognitive impairments more extensive in psychopaths #
! •! APD always includes criminal behaviour, but not all psychopaths are criminal #
! •! 50-80% of male inmates qualify for APD but only 11-25 for psychopathy #
! •! One has or does not have APD #
!◦!Characteristics for APD and those of Hares primary psychopath are very similar #
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Primary Psychopath #
! •! Outgoing, charming and verbally proficient - can be criminal but many aren't #
! •! The doctor/psychologist who lived a life of lies -> non violent #
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Behavioral Descriptions #
! •! The three faces of eve - hervey cleckley - non fiction #
!◦!Well known psychiatrist#
!◦!About the phenomenon of "multiple personality"% #
! •! The mask of sanity #
!◦!Clear useful terms of the major behaviours demonstrated by primary
psychopaths #
!◦!16 traits included which he felt described primary psychopath #
!◦!Psychopaths more complex than his traits #
! •! Hares traits more inclusive of primary psychopath #
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Behavioral Characteristics #
! •! Main features include -> superficial charm and high intelligence -> more ! !
! ! apparent in first contact #
! •! Often seem intelligent due to the fact that they display many interests and can !
! ! often talk about things for a long time #
!◦!But most of their speech is disorganized and lacks and real substances and !
! ! consists of half formed sentences and ideas #
!◦!Can% often talk themselves out of trouble #
! •! This charm does not typically lead to success in life #
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Psychological Testing Differences #
! •! Psychopaths usually score higher on intelligence tests than general population #
!◦!But not that smart since they still got arrested and convicted #
! •! Basically smart but not common sense smart #
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Psychopaths and Mental Disorders #
! •! Most lack symptoms of excessive worry or anxiety, psychotic thinking, delusions
! ! or depression #
!◦!Even under high pressure they remain calm #
! •! Hare argues psychopathy and schizophrenia are part of the same spectrum of
disorders -> some substance to this because others have had similar findings #
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Psychopaths and suicide #
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! •! Hare found some psychopaths commit suicide when they see no way out #
!◦!These situations include very long prison sentence, incurable illness or being !
! ! surrounded by the police #
!◦!Suicide by cop cases some are psychopaths who want to go out in glory #
! •! Findings show that male psychopath inmates who are aggressive and impulsive !
! ! do show signs of suicide ->% found from self reported thoughts #
! •! In general more research needed for the complex relationship of psychopathy !
! ! and suicide #
!◦!Held psychopaths are more inclined for suicide when aggressive, impulsive and !
! ! in intolerable situation #
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Other Principal Traits #
Traits include #
!◦!Selfishness #
!◦!Inability to love others #
!◦!Unable to feel genuine meaningful connection to others #
!◦!Seldom able to keep close friends #
!◦!Hard time understanding love in others #
!◦!Highly skillful in pretending deep affection/can mimic deep affection #
! •! But deep true and loyal connection is hard for them #
!◦!Flat emotional reaction and effect -> relatively little contact with families#
!◦!Many change homes frequently #
!◦!May appear considerate or do small favours but as a whole they don’t respond
to acts of kindness #
! •! Since they are impulsive can be nice then all of a sudden do the opposite #
! •! Remarkable disregard for the truth -> called pathological liars #
!◦!Fail to understand purpose of honesty #
! •! Especially if lying is beneficial to them #
! •! Have ability to seem honest #
!◦!Unreliable and irresponsible and unpredictable regardless of the importance of
the occasion #
!◦!Can suddenly become impulsive even if everything in life is going well and then
suddenly damage everything in their life #
!◦!Bad temper which leads to attack quickly/argument #
! •! Usually say sorry and get second chance #
!◦!Small amounts of alcohol do a lot for psychopaths #
!◦!Lack ability of humor or laugh at themselves #
!◦!Lack ability to learn to avoid failure and self destructive situations #
! •! Some believe this reflects the need to be punished #
!◦!Often lack remorse and can do heinous things for no reason without guilt #
!◦!Psychopaths usually don’t plan their crime and do it for immediate satisfaction#
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