Lecture 10: Psychopathy Flashcards
PCL-R
The PCL-R refers to the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, which is a method for determining whether someone is a psychopath (developed by Robert Hare). The measure consists of 20 items that tap into 3 features that are thought to define psychopathy: (1) interpersonal features (e.g., manipulative), (2) affective features (e.g., shallow emotion), and (3) lifestyle features (e.g., poor anger control).
psychopathy and serial killers
- Most serial killers are psychopaths but most psychopaths are not serial killers
- Serial killers are often described as psychopathic
psychopathy statistics
- 90% of serial killers are psychopaths
- 1% of the general population are psychopaths
- 10-25% of the prison population are psychopaths
- 44% of killers of police officers are psychopaths
what is psychopathy?
- A personality disorder characterized by:
1. An arrogant, deceitful interpersonal style
2. Deficient affective experiences
3. Impulsive and irresponsible behaviours
4. Early onset and diverse antisocial behaviours - Only an abstract, intellectual awareness of the feelings of others
Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)
- 20 items scored using a semi-structured interview and file information
- 3-point scale
- Total ranges from 0 to 40
- Clinical cutoff for psychopathy: 30
PCL-R interpersonal features
- Glib/superficially charming
- Grandiose, inflated self-worth
- Manipulative
PCL-R affective features
- Shallow emotions
- Lack of guilt
- Callous
PCL-R lifestyle features
- Impulsive
- Irresponsible
- Poor anger control
- Criminal behaviours
DSM-IV criteria for APD
- Current age is at least 18
- Conduct disordered by age 15
- Adult criteria (3 of 7 symptoms)
1. Repeated criminal acts
2. Irritability
3. Recklessness
4. Lack of remorse
overlap between APD and psychopathy in offenders
In the prison population:
60-80% APD
10-25% psychopathy
Mean PCL-R scores
- 30 for psychopaths
- 21 for criminals
- 4 for the general population
methods for measuring psychopathy
- Unstructured clinical judgments (ex. “In my clinical opinion)
- Self-reports (ex. MMPI, MCMI, PPI)
- Informant ratings (APSD)
- Structured clinical judgment (DSM-V, PCL-R, PCL: YV)
distribution of psychopathy in male prisoners
- Mean = 22
- Base rate = 20%
distribution of psychopathy in female prisoners
- Mean = 19
- Base rate = 14%
importance of psychopathic traits: juvenile death penalty study method
- Does the presence or absence of psychopathic traits impact a layperson’s perceptions of what is an appropriate legal sanction?
- Juvenile capital defendant with either psychopathic traits (lacking remorse, callous, arrogant, deceptive) or
non-psychopathic traits (remorseful, accepting, responsible, respects others)
importance of psychopathic traits: juvenile death penalty study results
- More likely to select the death penalty for psychopaths
- Less likely to support rehabilitation for psychopaths
importance of psychopathic traits: juvenile death penalty study conclusion
“It seems that one would be particularly hard-pressed to justify the use of any of the psychopathy measures in a juvenile death penalty case.”
psychopathy: motives for murder study method
- 125 Canadian murderers
- Classified murders as reactive or instrumental
reactive murder
unplanned, crimes of passion, extreme provocation
instrumental murder
planned, settle a score
psychopathy: motives for murder study findings
- Inmates with low PCL-R scores were more likely to commit reactive murder
- Inmates with high PCL-R scores were more likely to commit instrumental murder
psychopathy and general reoffending study method
- Assessed 231 male adult offenders retrospectively
- Release decisions were blind to the PCL-R (parole or mandatory supervision)
- Follow-up period = 3.5 years
- Outcome: revocation or new offence
psychopathy and general reoffending study findings
- Those who were given parole were less likely to re-offend than those given mandatory supervision
- The higher one’s PCL-R score, the more likely they are to re-offend
psychopathy and treatment study method
- 176 treated patients/ - 146 untreated patients
- Follow-up period = 10 years
- Social therapy unit
- Minimum 2-year treatment program
- Foster responsibility and empathy
- Limited professional contact
- Entry to program nonvoluntary
