KRM 310 chapter 3
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 3- PSYCHOPATHY
Learning objectives:
Present a special type of offender (the criminal psychopath) who differs
emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally from other offenders.
Review the various measures of psychopathy.
Summarize the original four core factors and two new core factors of
psychopathy.
Introduce the Triarchic Psychopathy Model (TriPM) and the “dark triad.”
Review the evidence for juvenile psychopathy.
Identify the ethical dilemmas that juvenile psychopathy presents.
Examine the neuropsychological aspects of psychopathy.
Describe representative research on treatment strategies used with adult
psychopaths and juveniles with psychopathic features.
Psychopathy is arguably one of the most important psychological constructs
in the criminal justice system.
Juveniles who possess psychopathy-like characteristics, such as callous-
unemotional traits, are believed to be particularly susceptible to antisocial
behavior throughout their lives.
Psychopathy is often viewed as existing on a continuum, with individuals who
are thought to be psychopathic possessing different levels of its
characteristics.
Sociopath: An individual who continually commits crimes.
o Does not usually qualify as a psychopath.
WHAT IS A PSYCHOPATH?
Psychopath: Describes a person who demonstrates a discernible cluster of
psychological, interpersonal, and neurophysiological features that distinguish
that person from the general population.
There are 3 categories of psychopaths:
1. Primary Psychopath: The individual who demonstrates those
physiological and behavioral features that represent psychopathy.
The True psychopath.
1
,KRM 310 chapter 3
Erin Polyblank
Repeated behaviour.
Antisocial and lie.
Manipulation.
Superficial charm
Usually not volcanically explosive, violent, or extremely destructive.
Criminal psychopath: A primary psychopath who engages in
repetitive antisocial or criminal behavior
2. Secondary Psychopath: Individual with psychopathic characteristics, but
who commits antisocial acts because of severe emotional problems or
inner conflicts.
Emotional problems (Acting out Neurotics)
Often times they are victims are abuse
Not neurological/genetics (Genetics may make one vulnerable to
psychopathy)
Emotional response.
3. Dyssocial Psychopath: Individual with psychopathic characteristics who
is antisocial because of social learning and does not possess the features
of the primary psychopath.
Subculture creates an unemotional individual.
Gangs / terrorist groups
ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER
Antisocial personality disorder (APD): A disorder characterized by a
history of continuous behavior in which the rights of others are violated.
This term is used by psychiatrists, psychologists, or other mental health
professionals to describe “a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation
of, the rights of others, occurring since age 15”
o This is followed by seven additional criteria, any three or more of which
must be met, such as repetitive lying, impulsiveness, and disregard for the
safety of others.
o The individual diagnosed with APD must be at least 18 years old, and there
must be evidence that behavioral patterns corresponding to conduct
disorder (CD) occurred prior to age 15.
The features of psychopathy are not the same as APD.
2
, KRM 310 chapter 3
Erin Polyblank
o Eg. the definition of APD is narrower than the definition of psychopathy.
This is because DSM-5—intended as a diagnostic reference manual for use
by mental health professionals—focuses on behavioral indicators.
o The contemporary definition of psychopathy includes not only behavioral
indicators but also emotional, neurological, and cognitive differences.
APD and psychopathy do not mirror the same underlying psychopathology.
o Eg. The impairments in cognitive functioning are more pronounced and
extensive in psychopaths than in individuals diagnosed with APD.
APD by definition always involves criminal behavior, not all psychopaths are
criminal, and not all criminals are psychopaths.
“Psychopaths differ in degree, not in kind, from nonpsychopaths.
o The DSM-5 sees the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder as a
separate, discrete category.
BEHAVIOURAL DESCRIPTIONS
Hervey Cleckley, a psychiatrist who wrote The Mask of Sanity, first published
in 1941.
o This book describes in clear and empirically useful terms the major
behaviors demonstrated by the full-fledged or primary psychopath.
Cleckley identified 16 characteristics he felt described the typical psychopath.
BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS
Superficial charm and average to above-average intelligence are two of the
psychopath’s main characteristics that are both especially apparent during
initial contacts.
o It is important to identify that a large portion of the psychopaths Cleckley
worked with were well educated and from middle-or upper-class
backgrounds.
Many impress others as friendly, outgoing, likable, and alert, at least initially.
o They often appear well educated and knowledgeable, and they display
many interests.
o They are verbally skillful and can talk themselves out of trouble.
Their vocabulary is often so extensive that they can talk at length about
anything.
3
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 3- PSYCHOPATHY
Learning objectives:
Present a special type of offender (the criminal psychopath) who differs
emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally from other offenders.
Review the various measures of psychopathy.
Summarize the original four core factors and two new core factors of
psychopathy.
Introduce the Triarchic Psychopathy Model (TriPM) and the “dark triad.”
Review the evidence for juvenile psychopathy.
Identify the ethical dilemmas that juvenile psychopathy presents.
Examine the neuropsychological aspects of psychopathy.
Describe representative research on treatment strategies used with adult
psychopaths and juveniles with psychopathic features.
Psychopathy is arguably one of the most important psychological constructs
in the criminal justice system.
Juveniles who possess psychopathy-like characteristics, such as callous-
unemotional traits, are believed to be particularly susceptible to antisocial
behavior throughout their lives.
Psychopathy is often viewed as existing on a continuum, with individuals who
are thought to be psychopathic possessing different levels of its
characteristics.
Sociopath: An individual who continually commits crimes.
o Does not usually qualify as a psychopath.
WHAT IS A PSYCHOPATH?
Psychopath: Describes a person who demonstrates a discernible cluster of
psychological, interpersonal, and neurophysiological features that distinguish
that person from the general population.
There are 3 categories of psychopaths:
1. Primary Psychopath: The individual who demonstrates those
physiological and behavioral features that represent psychopathy.
The True psychopath.
1
,KRM 310 chapter 3
Erin Polyblank
Repeated behaviour.
Antisocial and lie.
Manipulation.
Superficial charm
Usually not volcanically explosive, violent, or extremely destructive.
Criminal psychopath: A primary psychopath who engages in
repetitive antisocial or criminal behavior
2. Secondary Psychopath: Individual with psychopathic characteristics, but
who commits antisocial acts because of severe emotional problems or
inner conflicts.
Emotional problems (Acting out Neurotics)
Often times they are victims are abuse
Not neurological/genetics (Genetics may make one vulnerable to
psychopathy)
Emotional response.
3. Dyssocial Psychopath: Individual with psychopathic characteristics who
is antisocial because of social learning and does not possess the features
of the primary psychopath.
Subculture creates an unemotional individual.
Gangs / terrorist groups
ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER
Antisocial personality disorder (APD): A disorder characterized by a
history of continuous behavior in which the rights of others are violated.
This term is used by psychiatrists, psychologists, or other mental health
professionals to describe “a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation
of, the rights of others, occurring since age 15”
o This is followed by seven additional criteria, any three or more of which
must be met, such as repetitive lying, impulsiveness, and disregard for the
safety of others.
o The individual diagnosed with APD must be at least 18 years old, and there
must be evidence that behavioral patterns corresponding to conduct
disorder (CD) occurred prior to age 15.
The features of psychopathy are not the same as APD.
2
, KRM 310 chapter 3
Erin Polyblank
o Eg. the definition of APD is narrower than the definition of psychopathy.
This is because DSM-5—intended as a diagnostic reference manual for use
by mental health professionals—focuses on behavioral indicators.
o The contemporary definition of psychopathy includes not only behavioral
indicators but also emotional, neurological, and cognitive differences.
APD and psychopathy do not mirror the same underlying psychopathology.
o Eg. The impairments in cognitive functioning are more pronounced and
extensive in psychopaths than in individuals diagnosed with APD.
APD by definition always involves criminal behavior, not all psychopaths are
criminal, and not all criminals are psychopaths.
“Psychopaths differ in degree, not in kind, from nonpsychopaths.
o The DSM-5 sees the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder as a
separate, discrete category.
BEHAVIOURAL DESCRIPTIONS
Hervey Cleckley, a psychiatrist who wrote The Mask of Sanity, first published
in 1941.
o This book describes in clear and empirically useful terms the major
behaviors demonstrated by the full-fledged or primary psychopath.
Cleckley identified 16 characteristics he felt described the typical psychopath.
BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS
Superficial charm and average to above-average intelligence are two of the
psychopath’s main characteristics that are both especially apparent during
initial contacts.
o It is important to identify that a large portion of the psychopaths Cleckley
worked with were well educated and from middle-or upper-class
backgrounds.
Many impress others as friendly, outgoing, likable, and alert, at least initially.
o They often appear well educated and knowledgeable, and they display
many interests.
o They are verbally skillful and can talk themselves out of trouble.
Their vocabulary is often so extensive that they can talk at length about
anything.
3
