Psychopathy and the Law

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) List of disorders and the criteria needed to diagnose someone An APD diagnosis refers to individuals who habitually violate the rights of others without remorse.

Groups of APD Personality Traits Acronym – LAIA L – Lifestyle Traits A – Antisocial Traits I – Interpersonal Traits A – Affective Traits

Lifestyle Traits Frequent impulsive behavior Recurring pursuit of highly stimulating experiences A pattern of unrealistic life expectations Frequent reliance on others for financial or material support

Antisocial Traits Childhood behavioral disturbances Teen or preteen delinquency (minor crime, failure to perform duty) Involvement in criminal conduct

Interpersonal Traits Inflated notion of self-important Frequent participation in manipulation or deception Deeply ingrained pattern of lying Superficially appealing social life

Pyschopathy Traits The term psychopathy comes from the German work psychopastiche, which means “the suffering soul.” Genetic predisposition – scarred amygdala Difficult time forming emotional attachment to other people Rarely feel guilt, regardless of how much they hurt others When engaging in criminal behavior, they tend to do so in a way that minimizes risk to themselves. Plan contingencies to ensure they don’t get caught. More likely to engage in violent behavior

Affective Traits Callousness towards others Limited emotional responsiveness Pattern of avoiding personal responsibility No guilt or regret for their actions

How is APD treated? Treatment usually does not work, however in juveniles, it is more likely to reduce the amount of crimes. (decreased recividism) Long-term group therapy Difficult to treat adults because of the manipulative nature of the disorder Group-therapy often has the result of making the individual worse than before

Psychopathy versus Sociopathy Similarities: Pattern of disregarding the safety and rights of others Deceit and manipulation Neither is necessarily violent, although it is more likely that a person with psychopathic traits exhibits violence. Neither can be diagnosed before the age of 18

Psychopathy v. Sociopathy Differences: Psychopathy is a FORENSIC TOOL used to describe a collection of traits based on the checklist developed by Dr. Robert Hare Sociopathy (Antisocial Personality Disorder) is a CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS.

How The Law Treats APD In general, the united states does not recognize a psychopath/sociopath defense. In fact, the MPC clearly states that “antisocial conduct” cannot be used to qualify a person as legally insane. However, a few states allow “psychopathy personalities” to be used for an insanity defense. Specht v. Patterson, 386 U.S. 605 (1967) (Colorado)

GAME: GUESS THE PSYCHOPATH!

Countess Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) Hungarian aristocrat – Most Famous Female Psychopath Method of Operation: Sought eternal beauty, so she bathed in the blood of her victims Murdered over 600 women over 20 years Punishment: Because of her social status and fear of tarnishing the King’s reputation, Countess Bathory served “life imprisonment” in her castle for 4 years before her death.

Jeffrey Dahmer (1960-19940 1980’s Serial Killer Method of Operation: Cannibalism and torture Punishment: Court found that he was NOT legally insane Life imprisonment after being found guilty of 15 murders

Edward Gein (1906-1984) Farmer and Handyman – Serial Killer Method of Operation Exhume bodies from the graveyard in order to make furniture and a replica of his mother Punishment Not guilty by reason of insanity Spent 18 years in a mental facility before he died of cancer and respiratory failure

Let’s see if you can identify a person with psychopathic traits in an episode of Law & Order (Season 14, Epsisode19)

Psychopathy vs. Sociopathy Known to be a result of one’s environment Negative childhood upbringing, such as physical/emotional abuse or trauma Impulsive and erratic behavior  usually unable to hold down a long-term job or have much of a normal family life Little regard for the risks or consequences of their actions Remember, Psychopaths manipulate others to make sure they don’t get caught