Summary Psychopathy Literature Package
MSc – Klinische Psychologie, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
2023-2024
Summary Cleckley
Chapter 25
, Pinel found that psychopaths do not show disordered reasoning,
previously assumed to be central to psychotic behaviour.
Maughs: Intellect is not impaired but other faculties like morality
and the will are.
Faculty psychology has been an obstacle in defining psychopathy
because it groups unrelated patients under a single term.
We see the mind, body, intellect, will, etc as interconnected things
that cannot simply be isolated and studied.
Psychopathy was previously thought to be physically apparent, but
this is debunked.
The author critiques the traditional approach to studying the
psychopath and calls for a practical interest in the problem. The
paper also acknowledges efforts by other researchers to study and
bring attention to the psychopath, pointing to valuable contributions
that have helped to focus attention on the distinct type of patient in
need of separate consideration.
The authors who have been quoted and briefly discussed are not
responsible for the confusion that surrounds the psychopath. Such
an approach to the subject is the traditional approach that has for
decades prevailed in psychiatry. Even the wisest and pains- taking
efforts cannot clarify a subject unless the subject is available. Many
of the works mentioned are held in high respect by me. In them
other subjects are handled in such a way that those who seek
reliable information can find it without undue difficulty.
It is hoped that these points may help us keep in mind that in our
attempts to understand the psychopath we must struggle not only
with the intrinsic problem of trying to distinguish and evaluate a
complex psychiatric disorder but also with an almost impregnable
approach. To touch our subject itself we must somehow make our
way through a surrounding zone dense with false or dubious
assumptions, mined with terms that at the same time make sense
and nonsense. The approach to our subject is, furthermore, skill-
fully camouflaged by traditional influences that may, before we
know it, have us talking about two or four or seven other things, no
matter how earnestly we strive to speak of one at a time. I have
little doubt that the present attempt to discuss the psychopath will,
like those of others, suffer from the general and intractable
confusion.
Chapter 58
Author challenges the traditional classification of psychopathy as a
mere personality disorder.
o Constitutes a serious disability rather than a borderline state
between health and illness.
o Fundamental difference lies in the psychopath's lack of
awareness or inability to comprehend the emotional
significance of experiences that are meaningful to others.
, o Unawareness results in a superficial and insignificant reality
for the psychopath, despite the outward mimicry of normal
human reasoning and emotion.
o Deficiency in experiencing the full range of emotions leads to
a lack of genuine conviction and insight into the emotional
depth of human interactions.
The psychopath fails to engage in the integrated emotional
consequences of experiences, particularly those related to major
personal and social issues.
o Leads to a selective defect or elimination of normal
experience, preventing the integration of strong affective
components into their overall personality functioning.
o The psychopath's imitation of reasoning, known as
rationalization, further underscores their inability to genuinely
comprehend and respond to emotional significance.
o Psychopath's disability in experiencing the meaningfulness of
life is a significant deficiency compared to the normal human
capacity to understand and respond to emotional stimuli.
Though "meaning" or "the meaning of life" can be applied to a
philosophical or religious system that attempts to explain man and
the universe, it must be obvious that such an application is not
intended here. By saying that a good deal of the affective sub-
stance which people find in life experiences is lacking in the psycho-
path's responses we seek only to point out that he is not adequately
moved, that he does not find subjective stimuli to make the major
issues of life matter sufficiently to promote consistent striving. It is
difficult, perhaps, to express anything about such a matter with- out
inviting misunderstanding. Such an affective alteration of
fundamental experience is generally granted in the schizophrenic,
who shows superficial indications of it. In the psychopath, though it
is so strongly indicated by his conduct, this alteration is well masked
by his misleading surface. It should not be said that such an
estimate can be scientifically proved in either case, or that any
subjective state in another can be so established.
Summary Hare
Psychopaths charm, manipulate, and they lack a conscience in
feeling for others.
o Show no guilt or regret, violating social norms.
It can be difficult to identify a psychopath and this is still an ongoing
issue.
Introduction
Psychopaths are not “mad” according to accepted legal and
psychiatric standards.
o Acts result not from a loss of control or a deranged mind but
rather and cold, calculated rationality.
MSc – Klinische Psychologie, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
2023-2024
Summary Cleckley
Chapter 25
, Pinel found that psychopaths do not show disordered reasoning,
previously assumed to be central to psychotic behaviour.
Maughs: Intellect is not impaired but other faculties like morality
and the will are.
Faculty psychology has been an obstacle in defining psychopathy
because it groups unrelated patients under a single term.
We see the mind, body, intellect, will, etc as interconnected things
that cannot simply be isolated and studied.
Psychopathy was previously thought to be physically apparent, but
this is debunked.
The author critiques the traditional approach to studying the
psychopath and calls for a practical interest in the problem. The
paper also acknowledges efforts by other researchers to study and
bring attention to the psychopath, pointing to valuable contributions
that have helped to focus attention on the distinct type of patient in
need of separate consideration.
The authors who have been quoted and briefly discussed are not
responsible for the confusion that surrounds the psychopath. Such
an approach to the subject is the traditional approach that has for
decades prevailed in psychiatry. Even the wisest and pains- taking
efforts cannot clarify a subject unless the subject is available. Many
of the works mentioned are held in high respect by me. In them
other subjects are handled in such a way that those who seek
reliable information can find it without undue difficulty.
It is hoped that these points may help us keep in mind that in our
attempts to understand the psychopath we must struggle not only
with the intrinsic problem of trying to distinguish and evaluate a
complex psychiatric disorder but also with an almost impregnable
approach. To touch our subject itself we must somehow make our
way through a surrounding zone dense with false or dubious
assumptions, mined with terms that at the same time make sense
and nonsense. The approach to our subject is, furthermore, skill-
fully camouflaged by traditional influences that may, before we
know it, have us talking about two or four or seven other things, no
matter how earnestly we strive to speak of one at a time. I have
little doubt that the present attempt to discuss the psychopath will,
like those of others, suffer from the general and intractable
confusion.
Chapter 58
Author challenges the traditional classification of psychopathy as a
mere personality disorder.
o Constitutes a serious disability rather than a borderline state
between health and illness.
o Fundamental difference lies in the psychopath's lack of
awareness or inability to comprehend the emotional
significance of experiences that are meaningful to others.
, o Unawareness results in a superficial and insignificant reality
for the psychopath, despite the outward mimicry of normal
human reasoning and emotion.
o Deficiency in experiencing the full range of emotions leads to
a lack of genuine conviction and insight into the emotional
depth of human interactions.
The psychopath fails to engage in the integrated emotional
consequences of experiences, particularly those related to major
personal and social issues.
o Leads to a selective defect or elimination of normal
experience, preventing the integration of strong affective
components into their overall personality functioning.
o The psychopath's imitation of reasoning, known as
rationalization, further underscores their inability to genuinely
comprehend and respond to emotional significance.
o Psychopath's disability in experiencing the meaningfulness of
life is a significant deficiency compared to the normal human
capacity to understand and respond to emotional stimuli.
Though "meaning" or "the meaning of life" can be applied to a
philosophical or religious system that attempts to explain man and
the universe, it must be obvious that such an application is not
intended here. By saying that a good deal of the affective sub-
stance which people find in life experiences is lacking in the psycho-
path's responses we seek only to point out that he is not adequately
moved, that he does not find subjective stimuli to make the major
issues of life matter sufficiently to promote consistent striving. It is
difficult, perhaps, to express anything about such a matter with- out
inviting misunderstanding. Such an affective alteration of
fundamental experience is generally granted in the schizophrenic,
who shows superficial indications of it. In the psychopath, though it
is so strongly indicated by his conduct, this alteration is well masked
by his misleading surface. It should not be said that such an
estimate can be scientifically proved in either case, or that any
subjective state in another can be so established.
Summary Hare
Psychopaths charm, manipulate, and they lack a conscience in
feeling for others.
o Show no guilt or regret, violating social norms.
It can be difficult to identify a psychopath and this is still an ongoing
issue.
Introduction
Psychopaths are not “mad” according to accepted legal and
psychiatric standards.
o Acts result not from a loss of control or a deranged mind but
rather and cold, calculated rationality.
