Lecture 14: Psychopathy and ASPD Flashcards
Psychopathy definition [1]
A personality disorder characterized by lack of empathy, impulsivity, and antisocial behavior
What is the etymology of psychopathy? [1]
- psyche = mind or soul;
- pathos = suffering or disease
What is “manie sans delire” by Philippe Piner? [1]
patients who engage in impulsive, violent acts
What is moral insanity by James Prichard? [1]
people who commit crimes but don’t care
What did George Partridge mean with “sociopathy”? [1]
failure to follow societal norms
What is the “mask of sanity” in the context of psychopathy? [1]
A term coined by Hervey Cleckley to describe individuals who appear normal but lack remorse and empathy
[10] Traits of “Mask of Sanity’.
- Superficial charm
- Unreliable, deceitful
- Poor judgment
- Self-centered, incapable of love
- Impersonal sex life (lacks emot. connection)
- Rarely suicidal
- No delusions
- No nervousness
- No remorse
- No long-term goals
What was the term used in the DSM-1 (1952) for psychopathy? [1]
Sociopathic Personality Disorder
What is the primary focus of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) in the DSM-III? [1]
Behavioral symptoms rather than personality traits
True or False: Psychopathy is a formal diagnosis in the DSM. [2]
- False
- Psychopathy is broader than ASPD; ASPD focuses more on criminal acts.
What is the Psychopathy Check List (PCL)? [1]
A rating scale developed for the assessment of psychopathic traits
What is the maximum score on the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R)? [1]
40
What is the cut-off score for psychopathy in the US and Canada according to the PCL-R? [1]
30
In which settings is Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) highly prevalent? [1]
Correctional settings
Prevalence of Psychopathy [4]
- Rare in the general population.
- More common in corporate leaders.
- Much higher in prisons.
- Men score higher than women.
What are Affective Deficit Models? [1]
Models that state that emotional dysfunction is central to psychopathy
Specific Emotional Deficit Theory - Affective Deficit Models [2]
- People with psychopathy have a general lack of ability to experience emotion
- They are not able to appreciate emotional reactions of others.
Low-fear Hypothesis - Affective Deficit Models [2]
- They are non-responsive to punishment
- Therefore they are not motivated to avoid antisocial behavior
Integrated Emotions Systems Theory - Affective Deficit Models [1]
People with psychopathy are impaired in their ability to recognize sadness or distress in others
What are developmental models? [3]
- Explain how parenting and socialization shape children’s moral development and behavior.
- Some children are born less sensitive to punishment.
- Others develop psychopathy due to bad environments or poor impulse control.
Frick and Marsee - Developmental models of psychopathy [2]
They propose two pathways:
- Callous/unemotional traits: some youth are born fearless or have low behavioral inhibition, making them unresponsive to discipline and indifferent to others’ suffering.
- Impulse conduct problems: Environmental factors (low intelligence, poor self-control) lead to reactive aggression, poor planning, and heightened anger.
What have twin studies indicated about psychopathic traits? [2]
- There is a strong genetic influence
- No major gender differences
What do brain-based models suggest about psychopathy? [1]
Psychopathy involves a network of brain abnormalities, including prefrontal and temporo-limbic areas
What is a common misconception about treating individuals with psychopathy? [1]
That they cannot be treated
What are the [3] components of the Risk-Need-Responsivity model in treating psychopathy?
- Risk
- Need
- Responsivity
What did initial studies suggest about the treatment of individuals with psychopathy? [1]
They were untreatable with poor motivation and high drop-out rates
What is the relationship between psychopathy and recidivism? [1]
High PCL-R scores are strongly associated with various forms of recidivism
What [3] factors contribute to the strong link between psychopathy and criminal behavior?
- Sensation seeking and impulsivity
- Lack of empathy
- Self-grandiosity and entitlement
What [5] cultural factors are associated with psychopathy according to Neuman et al. (2012)?
- Higher interpersonal features in Middle East, Africa, Asia
- Higher lifestyle features in North America, Oceania
- Higher affective features in Western Europe
- Lowest overall scores in European countries, Brazil
- Highest overall scores in North America
