Psychopathy Overview and Assessment

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Questions and Answers

What type of aggression do psychopaths primarily exhibit in criminal behavior?

Instrumental aggression aimed at achieving a goal (correct)

Impersonal aggression directed toward strangers

Emotional aggression stemming from provocation

Reactive aggression aimed at immediate retaliation

What proportion of psychopath homicides is primarily characterized as instrumental?

75%

48%

93% (correct)

67%

What is a major finding regarding the treatment of psychopaths based on Chakhssi et al. (2010)?

Nearly all psychopaths become less aggressive with treatment.

Therapy consistently results in improved social functioning for psychopaths.

The majority of psychopaths showed no change in aggression following treatment. (correct)

Treatment universally aggravates psychopathic behavior in all cases.

What evidence exists regarding the efficacy of psychopathy treatment based on Hecht et al. (2018)?

Successful treatment outcomes for psychopathy have not been demonstrated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant concern regarding psychopathy treatment during therapy reported by Hobson et al. (2000)?

Greater disruption and aggression in inpatient settings Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary sub-type of psychopathy characterized by low anxiety and narcissism?

Primary psychopathy Signup and view all the answers

Which method is considered the gold standard for assessing psychopathy?

Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following dimensions is NOT assessed by the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)?

Social responsibility Signup and view all the answers

What does the research suggest about the relationship between psychopathy and criminal behavior?

Psychopaths may function well without engaging in criminal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor from the meta-analysis by Leistico et al. (2008) is known to predict antisocial conduct?

Social Deviance Factor Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is commonly associated with secondary psychopathy according to recent studies?

Environmental factors and ACEs Signup and view all the answers

Historically, what term was used to describe the psychological attributes similar to those present in psychopathy?

Moral insanity Signup and view all the answers

What has been a central debate in the understanding of psychopathy in relation to criminality?

Whether all psychopaths are criminals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant behavioral characteristic of psychopathy as outlined in the content?

Persistent antisocial behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT described as a potential cause of psychopathy?

Exposure to classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is the prevalence of psychopathy reported in the general population?

1.2% - 4.5% Signup and view all the answers

Which assessment method is commonly used for evaluating psychopathy?

Psychopathy Checklist-Revised Signup and view all the answers

In historical perspectives, who significantly influenced the understanding of psychopathy through case studies?

Hervey Cleckley Signup and view all the answers

What is a commonly held misconception about psychopaths as described in the lecture?

They often appear to be well-adjusted individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of secondary psychopaths compared to primary psychopaths?

Greater impulsivity Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the treatment approaches for psychopathy?

There is an indication of limited effectiveness in treatment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychopathy

Psychopathy: a personality pathology characterized by predatory behavior, emotional detachment, callousness, impulsivity, and persistent antisocial behavior.
Prevalence: 1.2–4.5% of the general population.
Prison population prevalence: 20-40%

Psychopathy and Crime

Psychopathy is mostly studied through prison populations.
Debate exists on whether committing crime is crucial to psychopathy.
Psychopaths may live well-adjusted lives in society and even be successful.

Psychopathy Assessment

Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R): the gold standard for assessing psychopathy.
PCL-R assesses four dimensions of psychopathy:
- Interpersonal (e.g., conning, pathological lying)
- Affective functioning (e.g., callousness, failure to accept responsibility)
- Lifestyle (e.g., impulsive, parasitic, irresponsible)
- Antisocial tendencies (e.g., poor behavioral controls, persistent rule-breaking behaviour)
Involves a semi-structured interview and independent data (e.g., case reports, prison files).

Psychopathy and Antisocial Behavior

Meta-analysis by Leistico et al. (2008):
- 95 studies, N = 15,826.
- Analysed PCL-R and antisocial behavior.
- Findings: "Social deviance" factor predicts antisocial conduct.
- Psychopathy generally predicts recidivism.

Causes of Psychopathy

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs):
- A possible contributing factor to secondary psychopathy, which is characterized by higher anxiety.
Emotional Deficit Hypothesis:
- Suggest that emotional deficits can contribute to psychopathy.
Genetics:
- Potential role in primary psychopathy, characterized by low anxiety and narcissism.

Treatment of Psychopathy

Limited evidence on whether treatment makes psychopathy worse.
Some studies suggest psychopaths may exhibit more aggression during therapy.
Chakhssi et al. (2010): prospective study in a maximum security hospital.
- Psychopaths (n=27) vs. non-psychopaths (n=47).
- Treatment: weekly CBT for up to 19 months.
- Findings: did not make the majority of psychopaths worse.
- Some psychopaths became more aggressive (22%); no change in aggression for non-psychopathic subjects.
Reviews suggest that successful treatment of psychopathy has not been definitively demonstrated.

Psychopathy and Corporate Environments

Psychopathic traits, like manipulation, deceit, and lack of empathy, are often seen in corporate settings.
These traits can lead to successful careers despite unethical behaviors.
These "corporate psychopaths" may be less likely to commit traditional crimes but can still have a harmful impact on individuals and organizations.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of psychopathy, a personality disorder characterized by emotional detachment and antisocial behavior. This quiz covers the prevalence of psychopathy in the general and prison populations, as well as the key dimensions assessed by the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Test your knowledge of the complexities of psychopathy and its relationship with crime.