Are psychopaths more likely to exhibit criminal behavior

1. Do you think psychopaths are more likely to exhibit violent criminal behavior? Why or why not?

A lack of sympathy and compassion is one of the key characteristics of a psychopath (Smith-Clark, February 14, 2009). In psychopathic people, there is no deficiency in being aware of feelings or recognizing when others are in discomfort and/or agony. As a matter of fact, when it comes to recognizing it, psychopaths, if anything, are more capable than non-psychopaths are (Smith-Clark, February 14, 2009). This is one reason why psychopaths are extremely successful with manipulating others (Smith-Clark, February 14, 2009). A psychopath sees and understands precisely what another individual is experiencing, but “s/he just doesn’t care” (Smith-Clark, February 14, 2009).

Even though it is projected that twenty percent of prisoners are psychopaths, in reality, the disorder occurs in approximately one percent of people, which makes it fairly common (Ditkoff, ud). This aggregates to approximately one out of every one-hundred individuals. In other words, in a populace of eight billion persons, there are eighty-million psychopaths sauntering amongst us (Ditkoff, ud). Psychopaths are a lot more common and dissimilar grouping, which effects every one of us each day (Ditkoff, ud). Psychopaths may show the full range of criminality or non-criminality. Some are caught committing criminal actions and are recognized as offenders. Others commit criminal acts but are not caught. Still, others never actually cross the line into breaking the law while acting in ways that many people would see as immoral. A number of psychopaths are not ever recognized as lawbreakers, but are exceedingly efficacious and commonly well-regarded persons (Ditkoff, ud).

2. What factors could increase the likelihood that a psychopathic individual will engage in criminal behavior?

Such personality traits that consist of insensitivity, insincere and superficial sentiment, absence of compassion, carelessness, absence of guilt or fault regarding the detriment to another individual. Another personality trait is the propensity to manipulate and take part in predatory conduct concerning other people (Cohen, March 14, 2011). Possessing a genetic predisposition for criminal conduct does not decide the activities of a person, nonetheless, if that person is subjected to the precise surroundings, and/or environments, their probabilities for participating in criminal behavior are made greater (Jones, February 2005). There have been efforts to come up with the role of neurochemicals in influencing criminal behavior. Included in this list of neurochemicals are monoamine oxidase, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine (Jones, February 2005).

3. What factors do you think could reduce the likelihood that a psychopathic individual will engage in criminal behavior? Explain.

4. Do you believe that the person who is deemed a psychopath would fall under a psychological theory or a biological theory? Why or why not? Explain your rationale

5. Should this make a difference in the incarceration of this person?

Psychopaths do not comprehend the purpose of morality, of remorse or humiliation (Morse, 2002). Nor do they have responsiveness intended for other individuals. They are not capable of using compassion, suffering, or morals as motives not to harm another person, even if these are the greatest motives to abide by within ethical and lawful regulations (Morse, 2002). In other words, psychopaths are morally insane, but a diagnosis of being a psychopath is not enough to prevent punishment of a crime (Morse, 2002). Psychopathic behavior is lucid, is an informed choice, a deliberate and intentional tactic to perform in a way that functions as effective ways to a conclusion (Webb, ud). There is no medical treatment for a causal disposition disorder, such as the one labeled as psychopathic (Webb, ud). This virtually means that offenders with a personality disorder cannot be billeted inside a suitable health or disciplinary situation (Webb, ud).

References

Cohen, L., (March 14, 2011). What Do We Know About Psychopathy: Do certain psychological

traits predispose people to criminal behavior. Retrieved on 3 June 2013 from

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/handy-psychology-answers/201103/what-do-we-

know-about-psychopathy

Ditkoff, H., (ud). Psychopathy. Retrieved on 3 June 2013 from http://www.systemsthinker.com/

interests/mind/psychopathy.shtml

Jones, C., (February 2005). Genetic and Environmental Influences on Criminal Behavior.

Retrieved on 3 June from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jones.html

Morse, S., (2002). Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice, Psychopathy. Retrieved on 3 June 2013

from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/psychopath.aspx

Smith-Clark, C. (February 14, 2009). Mens Rea, Do you not get it, or do you just not

care? Psychopaths and mirror neurons. Retrieved on 3 June 2013 from

http://mensreapsych.blogspot.com/2009/02/do-you-not-get-it-or-do-you-just-not.htm

Webb, D., (ud). The Psychopath, Personality Disorder. Retrieved on 3 June 2013 from

http://www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com/psychopath.html

1.

Do you think psychopaths are more likely to exhibit violent criminal behavior? Why or

why not?

A lack of

sympathy and

compassion

is one

of the

key

characteristics

of

a

psychopath

(

Smith

-

Clark,

February 14, 2009).

In psychopathic people,

there is no

deficiency in

be

ing