Psychopathy Case Studies

They presented evidence that showed that many individuals who commit violent crimes are much more likely than others to kill or abuse again. To support their position they measure this potential for recidivism with a structured examination which is called the psychopathy checklist. Part of this test includes an extensive interview where trained medical professionals rate the offenders on a personality test checklist. The individuals who are subjected to this test earn different points depending on the applicability of the listed items. Small scores are found in the general population, while a higher range is found in prison populations and among highly psychopathic offenders or predatory killers. Researchers have found that those individuals who score in the higher ranges are up to four times more likely than other prisoners to commit another crime once released. Almost 100 % of those tested individuals on the top of the hierarchy list qualify as

The finding that the association between psychopathy and IPV was equivalent for males and females in both samples represents preliminary evidence for the generalizability of the predictive power of psychopathy across gender, and adds to the growing literature on the manifestations of psychopathic personality among females.

In mainstream culture and science alike, the attitude of psychopaths is that they are emotionless or violent by nature. Researchers have often suggested they are made, not born; consequently, which is it? According to Xun Zi, the man by nature is evil. According to several studies, there’s a genetic predisposition to antisocial behavior. As of today, studies show there is no known cure for full-blown psychopathy; psychopaths are found in every country, belong to every race, and the majority are men. Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by remorseless and impulsive antisocial behavior. It can be diagnosed only using the 20-item Hare Psychopathy Checklist and according to psychology today a score of 30 and above classifies as a

In the United States, homicide offenders were primarily black males under age 25 (Cooper, Smith, 2011). Homicide offenders possess four typologies. First personality type is an over-controlled-repressor type characterized by an absence of reported disturbance, but a marked tendency to make use of denial and avoidance mechanisms. Second personality type is a paranoid-aggressive type showing sever and widespread psychopathology and poor impulse control. Third personality type is a depressed-inhibited type who reveal subjective depression, social withdrawal and inhibition. Fourth personality type is a psychopathic group who are extraverted, extra-punitive and impulsive, but who not reveal any subjective distress (Blackburn, 1971). Offenders are typically from the southern states where culture is very influential, most commonly from urban neighborhoods of economic disadvantage, problematic policing, and cultural codes supporting solutions involving retaliatory killing (Kubrin, Weitzer,

There has been a myriad of research into psychopathy as it relates to the ordinary, violent criminal, yet little research exists into psychopathy of the non-violent, corporate criminal. We will examine whether there are truly differences in the psychopathy of these offenders in comparison to the average street level criminal, or whether the distinctions purely driven by our own need to justify the actions of well-educated, seemingly respectable members of society. We will examine the nature of corporate crime, the classification and identification of psychopathy, and how it applies to corporate criminals, uncovering the differences between their psychopathy and that of the ordinary criminal.

In the United States there are approximately 1,075,000 psychopathic males in prison or on parole out of 1,150,000 males that meet the criteria for psychopathy (Kiehl and Hoffman). Psychopaths and sociopaths tend to commit more crimes than mentally sound people because of their lack of empathy but with the right treatment they can begin to understand right from wrong. Both psychopathy and sociopathy are defined as antisocial personality disorders that produce a lack of empathy in the victims (Porter). The topics of psychopathy and sociopathy have numerous causes which negatively affect the victim, his or her family and the society in which they live; however, treatment for psychopathy and sociopathy can be a positive force for the future of

Psychopathy consist of a number of characteristics including; relational (treachery, insincere charm, grandiosity), affective, (absence of sympathy, guilt, or remorse), and behavioral (recklessness, impulsiveness, parasitic lifestyle). Psychopathic offenders typically begin committing violent crimes at an early age, and more inclined to use coercions of violence and the use of weapons in their crimes as well as the fact that they may be motivated by either revenge retribution or both (Dhingra, & Boduszek, 2013).

Firstly, the psychopathic personality is characterized by lack of empathy, guilt and remorse, irresponsibility, impulsivity being without conscious (Kiehl, & Hoffman, 2011). In contrast, antisocial behavior, according to the study can include such behaviors as substance abuse, risk-taking, aggression against person or property (Forsman, Lichtenstein, Andershed, & Larsson, 2010). Hence, both of these disorders can cost subsequent harm and a financial burden on society. For instance, the study conducted by Kiehl and Hoffman, noted that almost 93% of psychopaths are in the criminal justice system as inmates, paroles, or on probation (Kiehl, & Hoffman, 2011). The purpose of the psychopathic and antisocial behavior study was to establish which behavior comes first and when does it start within the life span. Prior studies had established a link psychopathy and subsequent antisocial behavior which lead to a criminal to commit multiple offenses. For instance, a 15 year old psychopath is predicted to reoffend in 3 -4 years after the initial offense. Additionally, psychopaths between the ages of 12 -18 years old will commit ranging violent acts over a 10 year period. The method of this study included 2,255 twin pairs consisting of mailed questionnaires sent to parents and children. The questionnaires where sent in

The meaning of the word “psychopathy” can vary depending on the different areas of study that attempt to explain this mental disorder. But what everybody seems to agree on, is the usage of this word to describe a person with abnormal maladaptive behavior that can harm the individual and others surrounding him.

In another study, Risser & Eckert, 2016) examined the potential link between psychopathic traits, aggressive behavior, and moral disengagement mechanisms. Characteristics of a psychopath include a lack of empathy or remorse towards a potential victim, callousness, lack of emotion, antisocial behavior, and impulsiveness; therefore, these individuals do not possess the typical internalization of morality that requires the ability to morally disengage because they do not experience/view their behavior as wrong. The study produced interesting results. First, males reported greater engagement in nonviolent aggression (e.g., lying or stealing), moral disengagement, and psychopathic traits (e.g., lack of empathy/remorse, callousness, unemotional,

The idea of psychopathy goes back over two centuries. It first gained recognition in North America due to the work of Cleckley (1941). Psychopathy is a personality concept traditionally linked with different personality traits and behaviours. Cleckley (1941) stated that these clinical features did not only exist in the prisons but also in the general population. Successful individuals who have a higher social status portray traits associated with psychopathy. Cleckley (1982) also stated that individuals who portray psychotic traits tend to have an above average intelligence.Psychopathy can be broken in into two main subtypes (Blackburn, 1998). Primary and secondary psychopathy. Secondary psychopathy tends to be more common in the general population. Many clinicians and researchers have long speculated psychopaths in the general community (

Roles That Mental Illness Play In Psychopathic Behavior were investigated. Key issues which were addressed include:

S. Bezdjian is employed at the University of Southern California, in the Department of Psychology, and has been a part of numerous other articles related to childhood behavior and personality. (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Serena_Bezdjian). L. A. Baker is also employed at the University of Southern California in the Department of Psychology. She has been elected president of the Behavior Genetic Association and specializes in behavioral genetics, specifically with antisocial behavior. Many journal articles support her standing as a reputable source. (https://dornsife.usc.edu/cf/psyc/psyc_faculty_display.cfm?person_id=1003067). A. Raine is employed at the University of Pennsylvania in the Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology. A major focus of his is Neurocriminology, which does pertain to this study in the way that one of the study’s goals is to identify psychopathic traits in order to prevent future negative issues seen in adults with psychopathic personality disorder. (https://crim.sas.upenn.edu/people/adrian-raine). D. R. Lynam is a distinguished professor of clinical psychology at Perdue University in the Psychological Sciences department. He has countless publications relating to behavior and psychopathy.

Anh Vien and Anthony R. Beech start the reading by quoting that Hare “estimated that 15% to 20% of all prisoners are psychopath” (285). There has been an attempted to try to give a general definition of psychopathy but most researchers are in disagreement. The evolution of psychopathy began over a century ago but it only recently found scientifically sound psychometric procedure for its assessments (285). The first look at personality traits was Checkley who discovered that psychopath was revealed through the disintegrating effects of strong emotion and the disconnection between the world and “semteci demtnia” (285). Cleckley discovered 16 personality traits

Of the 87 participants, 17 males and 1 female met criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Criminal history record searches through the Department of Justice showed that 33 males and 4 females had a history of police arrest, and 26 males and 3 females had a history of court convictions. Psychopathy was measured using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), with a total score ranging from 0-40. For the purposes of this study, a cutoff score of 23 was used to identify those designated as psychopathic, which included 30 males and 2 females.