Psychopathy Flashcards
What are public conceptions of psychopathy?
Violent Psychotic (including hallucinations) Remorseless Born like it - Not made by society Can't be treated
Who was Ted Bundy?
In 1974: Murdered 30 women - abducted them with lies and charm. Necrophile Decapitated 12 of his victims Executed in 1989 Is what people believe psychopathy is.
How does the DSM-5 list Psychopathy?
Anti-social personality disorder
What is the prevalence of anti-social personality disorder?
0.2-3.3% in the general population
What is the criteria for anti-social personality disorder in the DSM-5?
Disregard/Violation of rights of others since 15yrs old
Individual is over 18yrs old
Evidence of onset from 15yrs old
anti-social behaviour not exclusively during course of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
How do we measure anti-social personality disorder?
Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R)
What is the PCL-R?
20 statements
PPS define how much these statements apply to them on a scale of 0-2
Score of 30+ results in a diagnosis
What two factors does the PCL-R measure?
Interpersonal effective domain (Callous and Manipulative) Antisocial domain (Disinhibition and Antisocial Behaviour)
How would you measure if Psychopathy is born or made?
Twin Studies
What’s the difference between Monozygotic twins (MZ) and Dizygotic twins (DZ)?
MZ - 100% genetic similarity
DZ - 50% genetic similarity
If MZ concordance was more than DZ concordance, what would this show?
Genetic Link
If DZ concordance was more than half that of MZ concordance, what would this show?
Shared environment link
If MZ concordance was less than 100%, what does this show?
Non-shared environment link
What did Taylor et al (2000) find?
Some genetic link with criminal activity
Particularly in early starters
What is a disadvantage of Taylor et al (2000) study?
Focuses on delinquent antisocial behaviour
What did Blonigen et al (2003) do and find?
Twin study (353 adolescent male pairs)
Measured psychopathy traits, not antisocial behaviour
Found 54% variance explained by non-shred environment
46% genetics and shared environment
Suggests NOT born with psychopathy traits
What is the Amygdala associated with in the brain?
Emotion/fear response
What did Harenski (2010) find?
PPS show lower amygdala activity when viewing pictures of moral violations
What is the Orbitofrontal cortex associated with?
Executive control
Including decision making and inhibition
What did Raine (2000) find?
11% less prefrontal brain volume in antisocial personality disorder groups
Why are treatments for anti-social personality disorder often unsuccessful?
PPS may have no desire to change (Kantor 2006)
What does the Mental Health Act 1983/2007 state regarding sentencing psychopaths?
They can be held indefinitely
What did Babiak (2010)do/find?
203 corporate professionals Completed PCL-R 5.9% has possible psychopathy score (over 30) Associated with -Good communication -Strategic thinking -Creative thoughts
What did Buchels et al (2014) do/find?
1215 internet users
Questionnaire on personality traits and online behaviour
Link between ‘trolling’ and psychopathic traits
What are the main points regarding Psychopathy that would be used in an essay?
Preconceptions - Ted Bundy Defining Psychopathy - DSM How it is measured Born or made? Brain dysfunction Determinism and Sentencing Corporate Psychopaths Online Psychopaths
