Psychopathy

Not to be confused with Psychosis, Psychopathology, Psychic, or Sycophancy.
"Psychopaths" and "Psychopath" redirect here. For other uses, see Psychopath (disambiguation).
"Sociopathy" and "Sociopath" redirect here. For another usage of these terms, see antisocial personality disorder.

Psychopathy
Pronunciation
SpecialtyPsychiatry, clinical psychology, criminology
SymptomsBoldness, superficial charm, disinhibition, lack of empathy or remorse, inclination to violence and psychological manipulation, impulsivity, narcissism
CausesGenetic factors, low drive for affiliation, experiencing neglect or maltreatment
Risk factorsFamily history, fearless temperament, experiencing neglect or maltreatment
Differential diagnosisAntisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, sexual sadism disorder, psychosis, other psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder, schizoaffective disorder
PreventionProper care of children
TreatmentForms of psychotherapy including schema therapy for adults and parent management training for children
MedicationNone
PrognosisPoor

Psychopathy, or psychopathic personality,[1] is a personality construct[2][3] characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, in combination with traits of boldness, disinhibition, and egocentrism. These traits are often masked by superficial charm and immunity to stress,[4] which create an outward appearance of apparent normalcy.[5][6][7][8][9]

Hervey M. Cleckley, an American psychiatrist, influenced the initial diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality reaction/disturbance in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), as did American psychologist George E. Partridge.[10] The DSM and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) subsequently introduced the diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and dissocial personality disorder (DPD) respectively, stating that these diagnoses have been referred to (or include what is referred to) as psychopathy or sociopathy. The creation of ASPD and DPD was driven by the fact that many of the classic traits of psychopathy were impossible to measure objectively.[11][12][13][14][15] Canadian psychologist Robert D. Hare later re-popularized the construct of psychopathy in criminology with his Psychopathy Checklist.[11][13][16][17]

Although no psychiatric or psychological organization has sanctioned a diagnosis titled "psychopathy", assessments of psychopathic characteristics are widely used in criminal justice settings in some nations and may have important consequences for individuals.[specify] The study of psychopathy is an active field of research. The term is also used by the general public, popular press, and in fictional portrayals.[17][18] While the abbreviated term "psycho" is often employed in common usage in general media along with "crazy", "insane", and "mentally ill", there is a categorical difference between psychosis and psychopathy.[19]

  1. ^ "Psychopathic Personality and How It Develops | HealthyPlace". www.healthyplace.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  2. ^ Blackburn R (2005). "Psychopathy as a Personality Construct". American Psychiatric Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ^ Driessen JM, van Baar JM, Sanfey AG, Glennon JC, Brazil IA (July 2021). "Moral strategies and psychopathic traits". Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 130 (5): 550–561. doi:10.1037/abn0000675. hdl:2066/236779. ISSN 1939-1846. PMID 34472890.
  4. ^ Schönthaler EM, Dalkner N, Schwalsberger K, Reininghaus EZ, Reininghaus B (2023-03-27). "Psychopathic personality traits stress immunity and social potency moderate the relationship between emotional competence and cognitive functions in depression". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 14: 1061642. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1061642. ISSN 1664-0640. PMC 10084668. PMID 37051168.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference triarchic model was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Without Conscience was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Stone MH, Brucato G (2019). The New Evil: Understanding the Emergence of Modern Violent Crime. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. pp. 48–52. ISBN 978-1-63388-532-5.
  8. ^ Smith SF, Lilienfeld SO, Coffey K, Dabbs JM (October 2013). "Are psychopaths and heroes twigs off the same branch? Evidence from college, community, and presidential samples". Journal of Research in Personality. 47 (5): 634–646. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2013.05.006. ISSN 0092-6566.
  9. ^ Anderson JL, Sellbom M, Wygant DB, Salekin RT, Krueger RF (October 2014). "Examining the associations between DSM-5 section III antisocial personality disorder traits and psychopathy in community and university samples". Journal of Personality Disorders. 28 (5): 675–697. doi:10.1521/pedi_2014_28_134. ISSN 1943-2763. PMID 24689766.
  10. ^ Partridge GE (July 1930). "Current Conceptions of Psychopathic Personality". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 1 (87). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: American Psychiatric Association: 53–99. doi:10.1176/ajp.87.1.53. ISSN 0002-953X.
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference gap was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Semple D (2005). The Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pp. 448–9. ISBN 978-0-19-852783-1.
  13. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Handbook of Psychopathy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Hare RD (February 1, 1996). "Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Case of Diagnostic Confusion". Psychiatric Times. 13 (2). New York City: MJH Associates. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013.
  15. ^ Hare RD, Hart SD, Harpur TJ (1991). "Psychopathy and the DSM-IV criteria for antisocial personality disorder". Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 100 (3): 391–8. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.100.3.391. PMID 1918618. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  16. ^ Andrade J (23 Mar 2009). Handbook of Violence Risk Assessment and Treatment: New Approaches for Mental Health Professionals. New York City: Springer Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8261-9904-1. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2014 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ a b "Hare Psychopathy Checklist". Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  18. ^ Delisi M, Vaughn MG, Beaver KM, Wright JP (2009). "The Hannibal Lecter Myth: Psychopathy and Verbal Intelligence in the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study". Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 32 (2). New York City: Springer Science+Business Media: 169–77. doi:10.1007/s10862-009-9147-z. S2CID 16184054.
  19. ^ Hare RD (1999). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. New York City: Guilford Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-57230-451-2.