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Summary Criminology third year notes. Part B, psychocriminology. Study unit 3 - chapter 7.
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- University Of Pretoria (UP)
Criminology third year study notes. Psychocriminology, Study unit 3 - Criminal Psychopathy.
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PSYCHOCRIMINOLOGY.CRIMINOLOGY 310. PART B. STUDY UNIT 3.
CHAPTER 7: CRIMINAL PSYCOPATHY.
Define the concept “psychopath”.
The term “psychopath” is used to describe a person who demonstrates a discernible cluster of
psychological, interpersonal, and neuropsychological features that distinguish him or her
from the general population.
Robert Hare refers to psychopaths as “social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly
plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and
empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and empathy, they selfishly take what they
want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest
sense of guilt or regret”.
Distinguish between primary, secondary and dyssocial
psychopaths.
Hare proposed a useful scheme to outline three categories of psychopaths: the primary, the
secondary or neurotic, and the dyssocial.
Only the primary psychopath is a “true” psychopath. The primary or true psychopath
has certain identifiable psychological, emotional, cognitive, and biological differences that
distinguish him or her from the general and criminal populations.
The other two categories meld a heterogenous group of antisocial individuals who comprise a
large segment of the criminal population. Secondary psychopaths commit antisocial or
violent acts because of sever emotional problems or inner conflicts. They are sometimes
called acting-out neurotics, neurotic delinquents, symptomatic psychopaths, or simply
emotionally disturbed offenders. Recent research indicates that the secondary psychopath
demonstrates more emotional instability and impulsivity than the primary psychopath, and
secondary psychopaths also appear to be more aggressive and violent. They are also more
rooted in parental abuse and rejection.
The third group, dyssocial psychopaths, display aggressive, antisocial behaviour they
have learned from their subculture, like their gangs, terrorist groups, or families. In both
cases, the label “psychopath” is misleading because the behaviours and backgrounds have
little, if any, similarity to those of primary psychopaths. Yet, both secondary and dyssocial
psychopaths are often confused with primary psychopaths because of their high recidivism
rates.
,Distinguish between a psychopath and an antisocial personality
disorder.
Primary psychopaths should be distinguished from antisocial personality disorder
(APD). This term is used by psychiatrists and many clinical psychologists to describe “a
pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others, occurring since age
15…”
This DSM-5 definition 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.
The individual diagnosed with APD must be at least 18 years old, and there must be evidence
that behavioural patterns corresponding to conduct disorder (CD) occurred prior to age 15.
Although not all children diagnosed with CD eventually qualify for APD, persons with APD
would have qualified for CD had they been diagnosed.
The descriptions of the psychiatric term “antisocial personality disorder” follow very closely
the descriptions of the psychological term “psychopathy”. Although the DSM-5 states that
APD “has also been referred to as psychopathy, sociopathy, or dissocial personality disorder,
the features of psychopathy are not the same as APD.
- For example, the definition of APD is narrower than the definition of psychopathy.
This is because DSM-5 – focuses on behavioural indicators. On the other hand, the
contemporary definition of psychopathy includes not only behavioural indicators but
also emotional, neurobiological, and cognitive differences.
- In addition, APD and psychopathy do not mirror the same underlying
psychopathology. For example, the impairments in cognitive functioning are more
pronounced and extensive in psychopaths than in individuals diagnosed with APD.
- Furthermore, whereas APD by definition always involves criminal behaviour, not all
psychopaths are criminal, and not all criminals are psychopaths.
Another point: recent research clearly indicates that psychopathy is not a category but exists
on a continuum. That is “psychopaths differ in degree, not in kind, from nonpsychopaths…”
the DSM-5 sees the diagnosis of APD as separate, discrete category. One either has or does
not have APD. The characteristics used to describe the antisocial personality are increasingly
similar to Hare’s primary psychopath in behavioural terms.
This text adopts Hare’s scheme, consider “primary psychopath” an empirically and clinically
useful designation. It is distinguished from secondary or neurotic psychopaths in its
behavioural, cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological features.
- From this point on, when we refer to the psychopath, we mean the primary
psychopath. He or she is unique: not neurotic, psychotic, or emotionally disturbed, as
commonly believed and sometimes portrayed by the entertainment media.
- Primary psychopaths are usually not volcanically explosive, violent or extremely
destructive, although they certainly can be. They are more apt to be outgoing,
charming, and verbally proficient. They may be criminals – in fact in general they run
in perpetual opposition to the law – but many are not. The term criminal psychopath
, will be used to identify those primary psychopaths who do engage in repetitive
antisocial or criminal behaviour.
Discuss the behavioural characteristics of the psychopath.
Psychopathic Behaviours Identified by Hare and Cleckley.
Hare PCL Checklist. Cleckley’s Primary Psychopath
Description.
Glibness/superficial charm Superficial charm and good intelligence
Grandiose sense of self-worth Pathological egocentricity
Pathological lying Untruthfulness and insincerity
Cunning/manipulative Manipulative
Lack or remorse or guilt Lack or remorse or guilt
Shallow affect General poverty of affective reactions
Callous, lack of empathy Unresponsiveness in interpersonal
relationships
Failure to accept responsibility for actions Unreliability
Promiscuous sexual behaviour Impersonal sex life
Lack of realistic long-term goals Failure to follow any life plan
Poor behavioural controls Impulsive
High need for stimulation/prone to boredom Inadequately motivated antisocial behaviour
Irresponsibility Poor judgement
Absence of delusions
Absence of anxiety
Bizarre behaviour after drinking alcohol.
Behavioural characteristics:
- Superficial charm and average to above-average intelligence = two of the
psychopath’s main features. They are both especially apparent during initial contacts.
- However, a large portion of the psychopaths that Cleckley worked with were well
educated and from middle- or upper-class backgrounds.
- Many psychopaths usually impress others as friendly, outgoing, likeable, and alert.
- They often appear well educated and knowledgeable and they display many interests.
- Are verbally skilful and can talk themselves out of trouble. Their vocabulary is often
so extensive that they can talk at length about anything.
o However, systematic study of their conversation reveals that they often jump
“from one topic to another and that much of their speech is empty of real
substance, tending to be filled with stock phrases, repetitions of the same
ideas, word approximations, abstract terms and jargon used in superficial or
inappropriate fashion, logically inconsistent statements and phrases, and half-
formed sentences”.
o Since psychopaths are so charming and manipulative, these language
shortcomings are not readily apparent.
- Readers should not conclude that psychopaths as a group are usually verbally and
socially skilful in successfully manipulating others and the system. In a revealing
study that followed a large number of psychopathic traits did not lead to status or
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