Social Learning And Environmental Determinants Of Psychopathy

An additional aspect connected with psychopathy is the incomplete repressed capability to make the dissimilarity among ethical and conventional offenses. An ethical offense could be explained as one that is distinct due to its punishments relevant to the privileges and welfare of individuals. A conventional offense could be explained by its punishments relevant for the good of the social order. In the instance of those with psychopathy, individuals make a reduced amount of association to the victims that were part of the situation, and additionally appear to have a time that is more complex trying distinguishing between ethical and conventional offenses mentioned during the situation. ("Psychopathy: A Misunderstood Personality Disorder", 2011). Therefore, if there is nothing eliminating the action or offense, adults as well as children with psychopathy, will most likely illustrate a diminished capacity to differentiate between the two types of offenses.

In fact,because psychopaths are not able to feel empathy involuntarily, they are able to turn the feeling on. It is very common for psychopaths to have “ a false belief in their own superiority, a sense of entitlement and a complete disregard for social norms” (Paula, year). Psychopathy had recently been changed into ‘antisocial personality disorder’ in the updated version of the FBI’s mental health book, DSM-III. It was changed for the reason of the personality not always being reliable, as well as psychopathy symptoms crossing over antisocial personality disorder symptoms. Another reason for the change was because it is believed that focusing on behavior instead of the why helped identify the disorder easier. The new research was highly and widely discussed among many physicians because some felt unsure of the change, but they were also for the change with consideration of the evidence that was found. The usual psychopath is not found to be violent. If they are violent, they are considered more dangerous than others and will most likely reoffend sooner and worse than the first time. Between psychopaths and non psychopaths, psychopaths have a longer criminal history which varies in crimes. Their patterns are unique when compared to a non psychopath, but due to their inability to have emotion, they are able to be more observant on their next chosen

Unfortunately, changing the biological composition of their brain is not as easily achieved. Studies have found multiple areas of interest when studying the brain structures in psychopaths. These minor differences provide a world of knowledge into what composes a psychopath. Since each area of the brain serves a specific function, determining the effects of abnormalities correlates to the area of interest. Due to the major costs associated with many tests, they are not performed unless indicated. Brain imaging research on psychopathy: Implications for punishment, prediction, and treatment in youth and adults provides us with the very new research that has been conducted on both adult psychopaths, and juveniles that display callous unemotional traits (CU) and have disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) (Umbach et al., 2015). Research done has not given conclusive results that fits for each and every psychopath, but an area of commonality is the amygdala. “In addition to their finding of significant bilateral volume reductions in psychopaths, Yang et al. (2009) identified localized surface deformations in four of the 13 nuclei: the basolateral, lateral, cortical, and central nuclei.” (Umbach et al., 2015, p.296). The paralimbic structure is seen as the emotion processing center of the brain, controlling all emotions including empathy and conditioned fear

Psychopathy is a personality trait, therefore all individuals may possess some forms and representations of psychopathy, (Costa and Wildiger, 2002) but differ in terms of expression. Individuals who possess extreme forms of psychopathy are often presented in a dim light and are portrayed as individuals who commit bizarre, violent and senseless deeds, and then show no remorse for the pain they have caused (Levenson, 1992).

The natural cause of psychopathy is due to malfunction of the brain while the causes of sociopathy consist of environmental factors. Various studies have shown that psychopaths are born and faintly affected by the environment around them. As noted in “Inside the Mind of a Psychopath,” psychopathy is due to the malfunction of the area in the brain that controls human emotions, thus psychopathic people lack empathy and the ability to manage emotions properly (Kiehl and Buckholtz 5-6). Furthermore, Professor Crag S. Neumann declares that “evidence from large-scale studies suggests that psychopathic traits are

Psychopathy is currently understood as a cluster of behaviors and personality traits that are typically viewed in a negative light (Hare 1993). Psychopaths are described as callous

In “The Making of a Serial Killer,” Berit Brogaard explains the genetics and brain-work behind psychopathy. Brogaard examines studies that show psychopathy may be hereditary, furthering the idea that there must be a problem with the brain, which also means it could possibly be correctable. Psychopathy could, along with other mental disorders and illnesses, develop in one’s childhood. Psychopathy is often confused with other disorders and illnesses, which is understandable because of the various similarities. Although studies have shed light on some possible causes of psychopathy, much of the disorder remains a mystery.

Psychopathy is a disorder which can be split into two subtypes, primary and secondary. Primary psychopathy is typified by callous, manipulative, selfish and untruthful behaviour (Karpman, 1948, as cited in Levenson, Kiehl & Fitzpatrick, 1995). Secondary psychopathy is associated with anxiety, introversion, low self-esteem and moodiness (Blackburn & Fawcett, 1999 as cited by Ali & Chamorro-Premuzic, 2010). Cognitive empathy is described as the being able to understand and infer emotions of others (Joliffee & Farrington, 2004 as cited by Ali & Chamorro-Premuzic). Understanding the association between Psychopathy and Empathy is an area of interest as it provides insight on how to effectively rehabilitate psychopaths; if they are showing the

“Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by an inability to form human attachment, aggressive narcissism, and antisocial behavior defined by a constellation of affective, interpersonal and behavioral characteristics, most of which society views as pejorative” [1]. Some of these characteristics include irresponsibility, grandiosity, cunning, deceitfulness, selective impulsivity, sexual promiscuity, lack of empathy, etc. People who are psychopathic display not only antisocial behavior but also emotional impairment such as the lack of guilt. They are able to prey on others using their charm, deceit, violence or any other methods that allow them to get what they want. A strong feature of most of the behavior

This author uses the definition provided by the Oxford Dictionaries Online for psychopath: a person suffering from a chronic mental condition with abnormal or violent social behavior. This author has chosen to use the criteria provided by Dr. Hervey M. Cleckley, an American psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of psychopathy. His book, The Mask of Sanity published in 1941, details his research into the realm of psychopathy, his assertion that psychopaths are capable of providing a charming and benevolent face to the world while hiding a mental disorder, and the criteria by which he (Hervey) determines the psychopathy. Cleckley’s book became a seminal work on the subject, and his criterion is still used today. Cleckley’s list includes: Superficial charm and good intelligence; Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking; Absence of nervousness or psychoneurotic manifestations; Unreliability; Untruthfulness and insincerity; Lack of remorse and shame; Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior; Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience; Pathologic egocentricity

Psychopathy is usually defined as a personality disorder characterized by antisocial behaviour, lack of empathy and remorse and bold superficial behaviour. A checklist developed by Dr Bob Hare identifies the key traits of a psychopath which is used universally to identify psychopaths. The main features of psychopaths include:

Psychopathy is a term to describe a personality disorder, from a non-specified cluster, obtained by individuals who posses certain characteristics that are defined as chronically amoral and antisocial behavior with lack of emotion or feelings of remorse. While not all criminals are “psychopaths” and not all people diagnosed with psychopathy, this paper will be primarily focused on those who posses psychopathy and have committed criminal acts of great proportion. Some crimes that involve offenders who posses psychopathy are serial killings and mass murders such as school shootings, mass shootings, and mass suicides such as those committed by cults.

Psychopathy is a very complex mental disorder. With its many layers of problems and degrees of intensity, it makes it hard for doctors and scientist to understand or comprehend the mind of a psychopath. Correspondly, even many people do not know what a psychopath really is. “Many people assume that psychopaths are serial killers or extremely violent, but psychopathy cannot be equated with extreme violence or serial killing. In fact, most psychopaths do not appear different from other people, or unalterably dangerous (5).”

Hereditary traits, like dimples and hair color, are passed down from parent to child through genetics. Psychopathic traits are no different than physical traits when passed down from parents to children. Halina Sulestrowska reveals that there are children who have inherited psychopathic traits that did not originate from the environmental influence on the development of the child (37). When examining children, it is difficult to analyze every single factor when identifying whether or not the child is a psychopath. However, when the other main factors of psychopathy are not aligning with the behavior of the child, the last main factor is genetics. These consistent “anomalies” are the missing factor that lead psychologists to look at the

Psychopathy is a disease of the mind, in which the psychological state of someone has emotional or behavioral problems serious enough to require psychiatric evaluation. Psychopaths have no concern for the feelings of others and a complete disregard of any sense of social obligation. Psychopaths are characterized by lack of empathy, poor impulse control and manipulative behaviors. They use charm, manipulation, intimidation, and the use of severe to mild violence to satisfy their own needs.