fprernsic Flashcards
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What is psychopathy?
A type of personality disorder marked by difficulties in interpersonal relationships and emotional regulation. Traits include manipulativeness, lack of empathy, shallow emotions, and reckless behavior.
What is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?
Psychopaths are emotionally detached, calculated, and often appear charming but lack empathy. Sociopaths are more impulsive and erratic, can form attachments, but still violate societal norms.
What is Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)?
: A diagnostic tool with 20 criteria scored 0-2, assessing psychopathy in forensic settings. Total scores range 0-40. A score of 30+ typica
What are the four dimensions of Hare’s PCL-R?
Interpersonal: Manipulative, grandiose
Affective: Shallow emotions, callousness
Lifestyle: Impulsivity, irresponsibility
Antisocial: Poor behavioral controls, early behavior problems
Give one symptom and description for each PCL-R dimension.
Interpersonal: Grandiose self-worth – unrealistic sense of superiority
Affective: Callousness – cold-hearted lack of empathy
Lifestyle: Impulsivity – acts without thinking
Antisocial: Childhood behavior problems – rule-breaking from a young age
Why should only trained professionals use the PCL-R?
Because scores have significant legal and clinical consequences. It requires expertise to interpret accurately and ethically.
What is a personality disorder?
A pattern of thinking and feeling that significantly impacts how a person functions and relates to others.
What are the two core features of personality disorders in psychopathy?
Severe relationship difficulties and problems regulating thinking, emotions, and impulses.
Do psychopaths experience psychosis?
No. Psychopaths are rational and aware their actions are wrong. Psychosis involves a break from reality like delusions and hallucinations.
How is psychopathy treated?
Mainly through therapy, though effectiveness is limited. No medication is approved. Many only attend under legal orders.
What is the nature vs. nurture debate in psychopathy?
Nature points to biological causes (e.g., genetics, brain structure). Nurture focuses on upbringing and environment (e.g., trauma, abuse).
What is the role of the amygdala and prefrontal lobe in psychopathy?
The amygdala regulates emotions; underactivity may cause lack of empathy. The prefrontal lobe helps control impulses and make decisions; dysfunction can lead to risky, criminal behavior.
Define prosocial vs. antisocial behavior.
Prosocial: helping, comforting, ethical behavior. Antisocial: lying, manipulation, aggression. Psychopaths lack prosocial behavior.
What is neurotypical behavior vs. psychopathy?
Neurotypicals may occasionally act antisocially but understand and value empathy and kindness. Psychopaths consistently lack emotional connection.
How might ordinary people show PCL-R behaviors?
Examples: Manipulating to get your way, impulsive spending, lying about homework, pushing ahead in a queue.
What is eyewitness testimony and what affects it?
A witness account of an event. Influenced by stress, misleading questions, memory decay, weapon focus, inattentional blindness.
What is the Weapon Focus Effect?
A phenomenon where witnesses focus on a weapon, reducing their ability to recall the perpetrator’s face.
What is inattentional blindness?
Failing to notice a visible event because attention is focused elsewhere.
What did Loftus and Palmer’s study reveal?
That misleading words (“smashed” vs. “hit”) can distort memory, suggesting memory is reconstructive, not photographic.
What are encoding, storage, and retrieval in memory?
Encoding: Converting information into memory.
Storage: Retaining memory over time.
Retrieval: Accessing stored information.
What is memory decay?
The loss of memory accuracy over time. Recall can become less relia
What is data-driven profiling?
Using stats and psychology to analyze crime scene evidence.
What is investigative psychology?
Analyzing patterns in criminal behavior to profile likely traits and predict future actions.
What is geographical profiling?
Studying crime locations to determine an offender’s base of operations.
What is behavioral consistency in criminal profiling?
The idea that offenders commit crimes in similar ways, helping link crimes to a single perpetrator.
How does the top-down approach work in profiling?
Review evidence
Classify crime as organized/disorganized
Reconstruct events
Develop profile with psychological insight and crime scene data
What myth about psychopaths has been debunked?
That all psychopaths are violent. Many are nonviolent and live among us, often successful but harmful in other ways.
