Psychopathy

Question 1

3 main symptoms of psychopathy and key symptoms

Answer 1

Emotional Deficits: Individuals with psychopathy exhibit shallow emotions, lack of empathy, and an inability to form genuine emotional bonds.
Key Symptom: Lack of empathy—psychopaths struggle to understand or care about the feelings of others.
Interpersonal Manipulation: Psychopaths often display manipulative behavior, charm, and deceit to achieve their goals.
Key Symptom: Glibness or superficial charm—psychopaths can be engaging and persuasive, often masking their true intentions.
Impulsivity and Antisocial Behavior: They may engage in impulsive acts and violate social norms without remorse.
Key Symptom: Antisocial behavior—consistent pattern of disregard for the rights of others and societal rules.

Question 2

Consequence hypothesis

Answer 2

The “consequence hypothesis” suggests that the symptoms of psychopathy, particularly those related to antisocial behavior, are influenced by the lack of negative consequences for their actions. Psychopaths may not experience the same level of fear or anxiety about punishment that others do, leading to a greater propensity for engaging in antisocial behaviors. This insensitivity to consequences can perpetuate a cycle of harmful actions without the deterrent effect that typically curbs such behavior in non-psychopaths.

Question 3

Assessment criteria of PCL R and ASPD

Answer 3

The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) differ significantly in their assessment criteria:
PCL-R: Focuses on specific personality traits and behaviors, including emotional and interpersonal characteristics. It is a dimensional measure assessing the degree of psychopathy, leading to more nuanced evaluations of personality traits.
ASPD: Defined in the DSM-5, primarily focuses on behavioral criteria over the lifespan. This binary classification (presence/absence) may lead to a higher diagnosis rate of ASPD in individuals exhibiting antisocial behaviors without the emotional and interpersonal deficits characteristic of psychopathy.
As a result, offenders may be diagnosed with ASPD based on behavioral patterns alone, while those with significant psychopathic traits may not always meet the criteria for ASPD, leading to differing diagnostic rates.

Question 4

Differences in violence perpetuated by psychopaths vs non psychopaths

Answer 4

Violence perpetrated by psychopaths typically differs from that of non-psychopaths in several ways:
Cold and Calculated: Psychopaths often engage in premeditated violence, showing a higher degree of planning and control. Their violence may be more instrumental, used to achieve a specific goal (e.g., financial gain or revenge).
Lack of Emotional Response: Their violence is generally devoid of emotional arousal; psychopaths may kill or harm others without experiencing feelings of guilt or remorse, which can lead to more brutal and callous acts.
Victim Selection: Psychopaths may choose victims based on specific criteria that align with their goals, whereas non-psychopaths might act impulsively or in response to emotional triggers.
Variety of Violent Acts: Psychopaths may engage in a broader range of violent acts, including sexual violence or sadistic behavior, due to their emotional detachment and manipulation skills.