PSYCHOCRIMINOLOGY Chapter 3 Flashcards
What is a SOCIOPATH?
A person who continuously commits crimes and breaks the law.
What is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?
A psychopath may or may not participate in criminal behaviour.
3 Categories of the psychopath.
- Primary psychopath
- Secondary/ neurotic psychopath
- Dissocial psychopath
Define Primary psychopath.
“True psychopath”. That person who exhibits the physiological and behavioural features associated with psychopathy.
Define Secondary/Neurotic psychopath.
Displays psychopathic characteristics, but commits antisocial acts due to emotional problems or inner conflicts.
Define Dissocial psychopath.
Displays psychopathic characteristics who is antisocial because of social learning.
Define Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD).
A disorder characterised by a history of behaviours where the rights of others are violated.
The main difference between APD and Psychopathy.
APD always involves criminal behaviour whereas psychopathy does not.
Define Criminal Psychopath.
A primary psychopath who engages in antisocial or criminal behaviours.
Who are the most violent and persistent offenders?
Criminal Psychopaths.
Give an example of a criminal psychopath.
Ted Bundy; Gary Ridgway
Why do criminal psychopaths engage in violence?
Revenge; retribution; or alcohol use.
Who do Criminal Psychopaths target?
Men who are strangers.
Recidivism among Criminal Psychopaths are very…
High.
The 2 main characteristics of a psychopath.
- Superficial charm
- Average to above average intelligence
Name 2 other characteristics of a psychopath.
Verbally skilled; seem well educated.
What do you call a psychopath who committed a crime but got away with it?
“successful psychopath”
What do you call a psychopath that has been caught in their crimes?
“unsuccessful psychopath”
Psychopaths and mental disorders?
Most psychopaths DON’T display severe mental disorders.
Psychopaths and suicide?
Psychopaths rarely - if ever - commit suicide.
What trait is ALWAYS present within a psychopath?
EGOCENTRICITY.
Semantic Aphasia.
A trait found in psychopaths where the words they speak lack emotional sincerity.
What type of aggression do psychopaths use the most?
Instrumental aggression.
What motivates the actions of a psychopath?
The neurological need for excitement and thrill.
The best known instrument for the measurement of criminal psychopathy.
Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).
What score on the PCL-R qualifies a person as a primary psychopath?
30+
What score on the PCL-R qualifies a person as a “non psychopath”?
Below 21
Explain the Two Factor Position of psychopathy.
Factor 1 - behavioural dimension representing the interpersonal and emotional aspects of a psychopath.
Factor 2 - behavioural dimension representing the socially deviant lifestyle characteristics of the psychopath.
Explain the Three Factor Position of psychopathy.
Factor 3 - involves emotional shallowness, callousness, and lack of empathy.
Explain the Four Factor Model of psychopathy.
Factor 4 - incorporates antisocial behaviour.
List the core features of the Four Factor Model.
- Interpersonal
- Lifestyle
- Affective
- Antisocial tendencies
Define Triarchic Psychopathy Model.
Model focusing on 3 dimensions:
- callous-unemotionality
- disinhibition
- boldness
Give another word for callous-unemotional.
Meanness.
Give another word for Disinhibition.
Externalizing proneness.
Give another word for Boldness.
Fearless dominance.
What does the dark triad of psychopathy consist of?
- machiavellianism
- narcissism
- psychopathy
What trait was added to the dark triad of psychopathy?
Now called DARK TETRAD.
Sadism.
What feature is in ALL of the dark tetrad traits?
Callousness.
What feature is only in sadism?
Enjoyment of cruelty.
At what age can a person be diagnosed with sociopathy / psychopathy?
18 years.
When do symptoms of psychopathy typically appear?
Before the age of 15.
What is neuropsychology?
The branch of psychology that combines neuroscience and traditional psychology.
Neuropsychological indicators are called…
Markers.
Give an example of a marker.
Skin conductance.
The human nervous system can be divided into 2 major parts.
- Central nervous system
- Peripheral nervous system
What does the CNS consist of?
- Brain
- Spinal cord
What does the PNS consist of?
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system
What does the autonomic nervous system consist of and explain their functions?
- parasympathetic nervous system (deactivates after emergencies)
- sympathetic nervous system (activates for emergencies)
Where in the brain is information processed?
Cerebral cortex.
Criminal psychopaths manifest an abnormal balance between the 2 brain hemispheres called…
Hemisphere asymmetry.
What is EMOTIONAL PARADOX?
Psychopaths can talk about emotional cues but lack the ability to use them effectively in the real world.
What is the frontal lobe associated with?
Executive function (higher order planning and organising).
What will frontal lobe dysfunction in psychopaths determine?
Whether they are ‘successful’ or ‘unsuccessful’ psychopaths.
What does amygdala-hippocampus dysfunction cause?
Problems with emotional processing.
The most common physiological indicator of emotional arousal…
Skin Conductance Response (SCR) / Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).
True or False.
Adult psychopaths are NOT responsive to treatment.
True.
What do callouss-unemotional children respond better to?
Reward-driven interventions.
When is the best time to apply treatment programs for people with psychopathy?
Early adolescents - has to do with the onset of puberty.
