Week 8- Psychopaths in Intimate relationships

Question 1

What is the percentage of the population that are psychopaths?

Answer 1

1%

Question 2

How many % of inmates are psychopaths and what percentage are they resposbile for violent crimes?

Answer 2

20% and 50%

Question 3

What are characteristics of psychopaths?

Answer 3

Poor recognition of fear and disgust faces, poor performance on neuropsychological taks

Question 4

Characteristics of community dwelling psychopaths?

Answer 4

Cheating, porn and deviant sexual behaviour, piercings and tattoos

Question 5

What is the social evoluntionary theory on cheating?

Answer 5

Psychopaths lack empathy but display indignation which
appears similar to empathetic reactions
Therefore, psychopaths can appear empathetic via displays of indignation

Question 6

What do interpersonal psychopaths have in relation to mating?

Answer 6

Short term superificial charm, short term manipulation, short term grandiosity

Question 7

Affective psychopaths mating

Answer 7

Initially, lacking empathy and
remorse would facilitate taking
advantage of a vulnerable person

However, the affective features
are incompatible with a long-term
relationship

Question 8

Lifestyle psychipaths mating

Answer 8

Sexually promiscuous, parasitic lifestyle, prone to boredness

Question 9

antisocial mating strategies

Answer 9

Although delinquents may be
sexually promiscuous, the antisocial
characteristics of psychopathy
generally compromise reproductive
success, especially if incarcerated.

Question 10

MAting success?

Answer 10

• Psychopaths may indeed utilised an effective mating strategy
– Use deception effectively for sex (Seto et al., 1997)
– Have more one
-night stands (Seto et al., 1997)
– Having more biological children (Harris et al., 2007)
– Good at spotting vulnerability (Wheeler et al., 2009)

Question 11

What is indicative of victimisation?

Answer 11

Higher self report psychopathy with greater accuracy of identifying a victim

Question 12

What were the results of women in relationships with psychopaths

Answer 12

• “Talked into victimisation”
• Lying
• Economic, emotional and psychological abuse
• Isolation and coercion
• Children as pawns and poor treatment of them

Question 13

What are the findings about women?

Answer 13

APD women (vs. men) more likely to be irresponsible parents,
engage in prostitution, physically violent against sex partners and children
• Similar affective and interpersonal features, divergent behavioural features
• In terms of mating strategy, more likely to rely on
manipulativeness and lying to secure a mate and to bear
children with