Psychopathy, crime, and criminal behaviour

Question 1

What are some of the 16 characteristics that compose the clinical profile of a psychopath?

Answer 1

• Superficial charm, glibness
• Good intelligence
• Sex life interpersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated
• General poverty in major affective reactions
• Egocentricity
• Poor judgement
• Lack of guilt and remorse
• Impulsivity
• Insincerity and untruthfulness

Question 2

What are the 2 factors in Hare’s psychopathy checklist?

Answer 2

Factor 1: Reflects affective/interpersonal personality traits
–> Selfish, callous and remorseless use of others, habitual lying, lack of love or guilt

Factor 2: Reflects chronic antisocial, criminal personality/behaviour
–> Poor behaviour controls, juvenile delinquency, irresponsibility, impulsivity, need for stimulation

• Three items do not load onto these factors: criminal versatility, promiscuous sexual behaviour, many short-term marital relationships

Question 3

What are the 2 different types of psychopath?

Answer 3

1. Primary psychopath - prototypical psychopathy
   - -> commits antisocial acts, is irresponsible, lacks empathy, is superficially charming because of some inherent deficit
2. Secondary psychopath
   - -> Not inherent but instead is caused by “social disadvantage, low intelligence, neurotic anxiety or other psychopathology