Ch11 Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is psychopathy?
A personality disorder defined by a cluster of interpersonal, affective, and behavioural characteristics including manipulation, lack of remorse or empathy, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviors.
Described as “intraspecies predators” who seek vulnerable victims for their own benefit.
What are the key assessment methods for psychopathy?
- Cleckley’s Mask of Sanity
- Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 1991)
- Self-Report Measures
The PCL-R includes a 20-item scale that uses a 3-point Likert scale to assess psychopathic traits.
What does the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) measure?
Interpersonal, affective, and behavioural features of psychopathy using a semi-structured interview and file review.
Current version applies a 4-factor model: interpersonal style, affective experience, impulsive lifestyle, antisocial behaviours.
What are the two factors measured by the Psychopathic Personality Inventory–Revised (PPI-R)?
- Fearless dominance
- Self-centered impulsivity
How does Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) relate to psychopathy?
APD focuses primarily on antisocial behaviours, while psychopathy includes a wider range of traits.
Nearly all psychopathic offenders meet APD criteria, but most APD offenders are not psychopaths.
True or False: Psychopathy meets the criteria for the insanity defense.
False
Psychopathy does not meet the insanity defense as individuals appreciate the nature of their acts and know they are wrong.
What are the characteristics of psychopathic violence?
- Predatory
- Motivated by identifiable goals
- Instrumental
- Callous
- Calculated
- Targeted at strangers
Psychopathy is associated with more instrumental than reactive violence.
What is the prevalence of psychopathy in the community?
Psychopathy is rare in the community, with ~1% considered potentially psychopathic.
Most individuals score a 2 or less on screening measures.
What is the effectiveness of treatment for psychopathy?
Treatment has not worked effectively with psychopaths, with higher violent recidivism rates observed in treated groups.
Effective treatment must be intensive and targeted toward criminogenic needs.
What are the two assessment tools for psychopathy in youth?
- Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD)
- Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV)
What is the Response Modulation Deficit Theory?
Psychopaths fail to use contextual cues that would normally inhibit behaviour in nonpsychopathic individuals.
They do not pay attention to cues that would inhibit their behaviours and fail to learn to avoid punishment.
What emotional deficits are associated with psychopathy according to the Affective Theory?
Psychopaths experience deficits in emotions that guide prosocial behaviour and inhibit deviance.
This has been linked to impairments in recognizing affect.
What is the role of the amygdala in psychopathy?
The amygdala regulates the expression of emotion and emotional memory, and its dysfunction is linked to aggression and defensive reactions.
Fill in the blank: Most psychopathic offenders begin their criminal careers _______.
younger
What are common traits of psychopathic individuals in business?
- Manipulativeness
- Spreading rumors
- Blaming others
About 5% of corporate professionals meet psychopathy criteria, creating toxic work environments.
What factors can influence the expression of innate traits of psychopathy?
Environmental factors such as personal experiences and family background.
What is a common outcome for youth with psychopathic traits who receive intensive treatment?
They may be less likely to violently reoffend compared to those who receive correctional treatment.
What is the relationship between psychopathy and sexual violence?
Psychopathy is not as strongly associated with sexual offending as with violent offenses, although some psychopaths with deviant sexual arousal may engage in sexual reoffending.
