Psychopaths & Criminal Psychology PDF

Psychopaths & Criminal Psychology Since ya wanted to know... Psychopathy Psychopathy is a condition characterized by the absence of empathy and other emotions. Callousness, detachment and a lack of conscience enable psychopaths to be highly manipulative. Difficult disorder to spot, as...

Psychopaths & Criminal Psychology Since ya wanted to know... Psychopathy Psychopathy is a condition characterized by the absence of empathy and other emotions. Callousness, detachment and a lack of conscience enable psychopaths to be highly manipulative. Difficult disorder to spot, as they can appear normal, and even charming Many criminals are psychopaths, but... NOT ALL PSYCHOPATHS ARE CRIMINALS. Adult psychopathy is largely resistant to treatment, though programs exist to treat callous, unemotional youth in hopes of preventing them from maturing into psychopaths. Brain anatomy, genetics, and a person’s environment may all contribute to the development of psychopathic traits.  Possible Signs of a Psychopath glibness/superficial charm early behavioral problems grandiose sense of self-worth lack of realistic, long-term goals need for stimulation/proneness to boredom impulsivity pathological lying irresponsibility conning/manipulative failure to accept responsibility for one's lack of remorse or guilt own actions shallow affect (i.e., reduced emotional many short-term marital relationships responses) juvenile delinquency callous/lack of empathy revocation of conditional release (from parasitic lifestyle prison) poor behavioral controls criminal versatility (i.e., commits diverse promiscuous sexual behavior types of crimes) “It has been estimated that approximately 1 percent of males and 0.3–0.7 percent of females could be classified as psychopaths.” Some Math 0.5 is in between 0.3 and 0.7 Middle of 0.5 and 1.0 is.75 0.75 out of 100 people are psychopaths Extrapolates to... 1 out of 150 people may be psychopaths! So then, what’s a Sociopath? A person with antisocial tendencies that are caused by social or environmental factors, whereas psychopathic traits are thought to be more innate. Antisocial Personality Disorder Antisocial personality disorder overlaps with psychopathy, but is not the same condition. A person can meet the criteria for antisocial personality disorder— which focus largely on antisocial behaviors—without showing core traits associated with psychopathy. Psychopaths are thought to comprise just a fraction of people with antisocial personality disorder. Narcissistic Personality Disorder a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. VIDEO: The Psychopath Next Door 42:00 This documentary is also available on the CBC DocZone website. https://www.cbc.ca/doczone/m_epi sodes/the-psychopath-next-door Update Dec 2: We couldn't access this DocZone video from school, but we found it on Vimeo. If you are watching from home, trying googling the full-length  CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY a branch of study that focuses on the intentions and behaviors of those who plan and carry out criminal acts. Understanding Criminal Psychology Provides a glimpse into a criminal's psyche Plays a role in how the law is applied. ○ In the courtroom, legal practitioners require a grasp of defendants' motivations and actions in order to render fair judgment. ○ Forensic psychologists, as well as other mental health professionals, are often called upon to help clinically evaluate the mental states of people who break the law.  Psychology plays a role in police work as well. Criminal profilers—who aim to determine likely suspects through a mix of crime-scene analysis, investigative psychology, and other behavioral sciences—are often forensic psychologists or criminal anthropologists. Law enforcement agencies often rely on these experts to get inside the head of a potential culprit by identifying the perpetrator's likely personality type, lifestyle habits, and quirks. VIDEO: Mind of a Serial Killer 6:11 What does a criminal psychologist do? Criminal psychologists study the behaviors and motivations of criminals. As such, they may conduct research to determine why crimes occur, consult with police departments to identify suspects, or provide expert testimony in court cases. Criminal psychologists may also engage in criminal profiling. Why is Criminal Psychology important? Criminal psychology findings may help identify suspects, potentially allowing authorities to prevent future crime or catch a serial criminal. On a larger scale, understanding what motivates criminals to break the law—whether poverty, personality, or otherwise—is necessary for creating the societal conditions that may allow them to stop. VIDEO: Criminal Profiling 16:11