Horizontal Scroll: Victims of Psychopaths Sex Power Dominance Control

Approximately 1% of the population is thought to be psychopathic, yet:

--Psychopaths commit more than 50% of all serious crimes

--Half of all law enforcement murdered in the line of duty were killed by a psychopath

--Approximately 1 out of 5 persistent domestic abusers are thought to be psychopathic

--50% of all serial rapists are thought to be psychopathic

For victims who have been caught in the deceptive web of the psychopath.  As you move from victim to survivor, extend a helping hand to your brother or sister behind you, helping them in their journey to the other side.
Text Box: APD, Sociopath, Psychopath Currently these three disorders fall under the diagnosis of APD in the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). In the ICD-10, the diagnostic reference book developed by the World Health Organization, and accepted throughout Europe, these disorders fall under the diagnostic category of Dissocial PD. The “psychopath” was the first disorder formally recognized by psychiatry. In 1952 the word “psychopath” was officially replaced with “sociopath PD”, however, both words were often used interchangeably. In 1968 “sociopath PD” was replaced with “personality disorder antisocial type”. But the word “psychopath” is used extensively in the companion volume, Treatment Psychiatric Disorders, published in 1995 by the American Psychiatric Press. The PCL-R (psychopathy checklist) is considered an integral part of forensic psychiatry. (Cook, 1997). For researchers, due to the need for accuracy and precision, the terms “sociopath”, “psychopath”, and “APD” have different meanings. Although most psychopaths meet the diagnostic criteria for APD, most people with APD do not meet the criteria for the psychopath. APD is a condition commonly found in criminal populations. The diagnosis is focused more on behavioral aspects, rather than personality traits. On the surface, the sociopath may resemble the psychopath, but the sociopath can have a capacity to build relationships and to feel some degree of guilt or remorse over harming someone they care about. They may feel loyalties to certain groups, such as gangs or the mafia, and will refrain from lying and exploiting within that group. But they care nothing for social norms, have no loyalties to society at large, and will break the rules of society. So, the sociopath will exhibit psychopathic type behavior in some contexts, but not in others. The psychopath does not feel guilt or remorse, and must meet the criteria of the PCL-R psychopathy checklist. Dr. Hare compared the “sociopath” and the “psychopath” as having a “cold” versus having “pneumonia”. Did You Know?Text Box: The Last Face Seen In deciding whether to cut your losses and sever ties with a possible psychopath, ask yourself if the person is causing you emotional, financial, or physical harm. If the answer is yes, does it really matter what the formal diagnosis is? Early in the Ted Bundy murder investigation, (and prior to his arrest for the murders), a Seattle psychiatrist gave a profile of the killer to police. In it, he said the killer had the actions and demeanor of a sociopath, and also of a sexual psychopath. The first professional to actually examine Bundy (without benefit of knowledge of the full scope of his crimes) was Dr. Gary Jorgensen, a clinical psychologist at the University of Utah. He spent several hours with Bundy and gave him a battery of psychological tests. He concluded that Bundy was a “normal” person who was extremely intelligent, and who was psychologically intact. He also determined Bundy to have “normal psycho-sexual development”. In other words, Bundy, the clever psychopath, who also happened to be a psychology major himself, duped the shrink. Bundy, who had sex with some of his victims’ corpses, manipulated many of his victims by appealing to their empathy and willingness to help others in unfortunate situations. In later coming face-to-face with the “real” man behind the mask, they would have considered Bundy to be anything but normal. His face was the last face they saw before dying.

--that  in a typical day most of us will cross paths with at least one psychopath?

--that in casual interactions, you would likely never suspect it?  It could be the chatty beautician who cuts your hair, or the deacon who passed the collection plate to you at church.  This is because the psychopath wears what is called the “mask of normalcy”.

--that contrary to movie portrayals, most psychopaths do not commit murder or serial murder, are not weird loners, and many are very social with the gift of gab?

--that approximately 1 out of 100 people are thought to be psychopathic, 4 out of 100 sociopathic, and 10% of the population have enough psychopathic “traits” to be problematic to others, but not enough to be classified as a “psychopath”?  Some experts feel these figures are even higher.

--that “psycho” or “psychotic” and the term “psychopath” are not the same disorder?  Psychopaths are not delusional, but are usually quite sane, know the difference between right and wrong, but simply don’t care.  They pick and choose which rules they wish to follow depending on what benefits them the most.

--that psychopaths are incapable of feeling the emotion of love--not for a parent, a spouse, or their child.  To the psychopath you are an “object” or a “possession” they own, much like their house or car.

--that psychopaths are natural actors and can “act “ emotions they don't actually feel?

--that the AMA estimates approximately 75% of psychopaths are dependent on alcohol and 50% abuse other drugs?

--that psychopaths are motivated by sex, power, dominance, and control?

--that psychopaths are often described as bullies or control freaks by those close to them, such as family members?  They have a strong need to have psychological and physical control over others.

--that psychopaths often have erratic job histories, frequently getting fired, or quitting on impulse with no future job lined up?

--that psychopaths often have horrendous credit histories?

--that not all psychopaths are charming, smooth operators?   Some rely more on coercion, intimidation, and violence to get what they want?

--that not only are psychopaths over- represented in prisons, but also in law enforcement, military, politics, religion, and big business (think CEO’s like Enron)?  Hare said his next choice to study psychopaths after prison, would be the stock market.

 

 

 

Did You Know--cont.

--that psychopaths, even the more successful ones such as Doctors or CEO’s, regularly need to take a “dip” into depravity and degradation?

--that psychopaths often have a sadistic streak, enjoying watching people suffer physically or emotionally?

--that psychopaths will expend less energy upholding their mask for someone they feel is of no use to them, often putting these people in a better position to get glimpses behind their mask?

--that unlike non-psychopathic murderers, whose murders are often filled with the heat of emotion, if a psychopath should decide to kill you, the psychopath would feel no empathy for you and no more emotion than you feel when you carve a holiday turkey?

--that the “best” clue that you may be dealing with a psychopath is if the person frequently engages in egregious behavior, while also making frequent plays for your pity and sympathy?
Text Box: --”I’m gonna bring you down mother fucker. I’m gonna do everything in my power to break you emotionally and financially. I won’t rest till I destroy your ass.” --”I hate people telling me I can’t do something. I figure out a way around it and do exactly what I wanna do. I like getting over on the bastards.” --”Why’re you so upset? Everybody dies. Get over it.” --”I love court. They believe my stories.” --”You’ve been duped. I got over on you better than any of ’em. The next one’s gonna buy me a boat or a house.” “You have no idea who you’re really dealing with. I’ll kill your ass and bury you out there in that swamp.” Without Conscience Unmasked

This site is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to give medical or legal advice or to be used as a substitute for professional advice.  

Text Box: “I’ve seen people sit around with the list of traits from the PCL-R and decide from that quick-hit perusal that an acquaintance or spouse is a psychopath. A clinician who takes the disorder seriously would not do that.” --Katherine Ramsland, chair, Social Sciences at DeSales University and author of The Human Predator.

(PCL-R)  The Psychopathy Checklist Revised

Hare cautions against going down the list and “armchair” diagnosing someone as a psychopath.  The scoring of the PCL-R requires professional training, and the comprehensive technical manual (222 pages) contains extensive definitions and behavioral examples for each characteristic.  Hare also points out these traits are not present in just one area of life, but are present in all areas of the psychopath’s life. He states many normal people have some of these traits, but not in the degree and consistency of the psychopath.  The “true” psychopath has most, if not all of these traits.  In addition, clinicians rule out other disorders that can result in similar type behaviors to the psychopath, such as Narcissism PD, Borderline PD, Histrionic.

Hare advises if you are involved with a person you think may be a psychopath and you need an opinion and help (as leaving a psychopath can be both tricky and dangerous) that you contact a qualified registered forensic psychologist or psychiatrist (many clinicians are not trained in the checklist, nor have they worked with psychopaths) for an opinion and advice (this won’t be a formal diagnosis), or get several opinions and advice if you can afford it. 

A person is scored “0” if the item does not apply, “1” if the item applies somewhat, “2” if the item definitely applies.  Scores can range from 1 to 40, providing an estimate of the extent an individual matches the proto-typical psychopath.  A cutoff of “30” is used to help diagnose psychopathy.  Clinicians also use available collateral information such as extensive interviews (the individual, family etc.), review of court documents, employment history, financial records.

 1.  Glibness/superficial charm

 2.  Grandiose/egotistical sense of self-worth

 3.  Need for stimulation/prone to boredom

 4.  Pathological lying

 5.  Conning/manipulative behavior

 6.  Lack of remorse or guilt

 7.  Shallow effect

 8.  Callous/lack of empathy

 9.  Parasitic lifestyle

10. Poor behavioral controls

11. Promiscuous sexual behavior

12. Early behavior problems

13. Lack of realistic, long-term goals

14. Impulsivity

15. Irresponsibility

16. Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

17. Many marriages/cohabitations/short-term relationships

18. Juvenile delinquency

19. Revocation of conditional release

20. Criminal versatility

 

 

                                                 How Bad?

Although criminal behavior tends to go hand in hand with psychopathy, not all psychopaths engage in criminal behavior that is grounds for arrest.  Or if they do, they’re too slick to get caught or they may be able to cover up their crimes and misdeeds by using their wit, education, family money, and other connections.  Many of them become romantic cons, or they con the elderly or other people, manipulating (robbing) their victims out of money and possessions, which carries a lot less risk than robbing a bank.  They know full well there is little recourse to the victim as law enforcement has its hands full with violent crimes and do not usually go full throttle in prosecuting such cases. Many psychopaths have never, nor will they ever seen the inside of a prison, although they may see the inside of your wallet by conning and manipulating you out of what they want, or they may screw you over in some other manner.

However, people other than psychopaths can also engage in extremely bad behavior at times.  Donald M. Black, author of Bad Boys, Bad Men:  Confronting Antisocial Personality Disorder, says isolated behavior that defies the rules of society is very common n the general population, that many of us flout the rules at some point in our lives.  In an ECA study, 30% of the men surveyed in St. Louis admitted four or more moving traffic violations, 18% of the men admitted infidelity in their marriages in three or more affairs, and 8% admitted to engaging in illegal activity such as drug dealing or other illegal work related activities.  In a Baltimore study, 34% of those surveyed had a history of some type of antisocial behavior from time to time.  Black says that at least 1/4 to 1/3 of the population has engaged in some degree of antisocial activities, although they don’t have the degree of severity and varied symptoms required for a diagnosis of ASPD. 

Recent studies show that 45-55% of married women and 50-60% of married men have extramarital sex at some point in their marital relationship. (Atwood & Schwartz, 2002, Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy).  Therefore, the vast majority of people committing infidelity are not psychopaths, yet they are engaging in a good many traits listed on the PCL-R while engaging in the affair.  However, their behavior is specific to the situation, and does not carry over into other areas of their lives. 

Psychopathy is a severe disorder and as Hare said it is important not to label a person a psychopath just because they engage in behavior from time to time that you find questionable.  He also says that a person who scores in the mid range of the PCL-R may not be a very nice person or a model citizen, but they are not a “psychopath”. 

Hare states the average person would score a “5” on the PCL-R. 

Meloy (1992) broke down psychopathic disturbance as follows:

Scores:  10 - 19  Mild psychopathic disturbance

               20 - 29  Moderate psychopathic disturbance

               30 - 40  Psychopath

The average PCL-R scores for incarcerated criminals are:  22 for men; 19 for women.

The mean score in the North American forensic psychiatric population is somewhat lower, at around 20.

Many psychiatrist would consider a person who scores as high as 20, but not high enough to be classified as a psychopath, to be a sociopath.

 

 

 VOP BLOG