CLASS 29

Personality Disorders ( DSM Axis II )

A Definition A longstanding, maladaptive pattern of inflexible behavior

TOP FIVE –Antisocial Personality Disorder –Borderline Personality Disorder –Paranoid Personality Disorder –Narcissistic Personality Disorder –Dependent Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder  Current DSM label  Necessary to explain career criminals  Especially, cold-blooded killers  DSM always a behavioral definition

Debate over the Label  This character was recognized since Greek times Born criminal Moral imbecile Sociopath

Psychopathy –Non-specific label –from Hervey Cleckley (1941) -he defined the cluster of traits that are still recognized today (more or less) -this is my preferred term

Basic characteristics  Traits –impulsive thrill-seeking –lack of empathy & guilt  Behaviors –early deceitfulness –manipulative –superficial charm –story telling –low suicide rate

Destructive outcomes  Repeated criminal activity  Substance abuse  Inability to sustain personal relationships

What is the core mechanism?  Shallow affect: –they can’t experience emotional highs or lows that normal people do –explains the entire syndrome

Famous case studies

Ted Bundy

Biography  Seattle, Washington  Intelligent, attractive, articulate  Law student at U Washington

Anti-social activity  Serial killer in early eighties  Raped and murdered 12 women from Washington state to Florida

More info Executed 1989

Christophe Rocancourt

With one of his model girlfriends

Later, modeled for police photograph

Biography  Raised in France:  Mother a prostitute; father an alcoholic  Violent history in Europe  Adored in North America

Character  Charming manipulator  Imposter: –millionaire, movie producer, race-car driver, etc –member of Rothschild family –member of Rockefeller family

Other criminal behavior  Con artist: bilked many victims of their money  Many counts of theft, fraud, attempted murder, forgery, etc.  Major crimes in NY, LA, and Vancouver  Long prison term  For more info For more info

 Whatever happened  to Rocancourt ?

With Naomi Campbell at Cannes

ORIGINS OF PSYCHOPATHY?  three categories of theories

1. Biological Perspective  Brain scan shows differences  Frontal lobe abnormality may lead to deficits in planning actions and considering moral implications of actions  genetic predisposition  heritability roughly 50 percent

2. Psychological Theories  Problem with thought processes?

2A. learning deficit –normal IQ range but don’t acquire emotional associations –i.e. never to socialize properly –they don’t like punishment but are unable to benefit from it

2B. attention deficit  unable to focus on rewards and punishments  therefore, they forget what they were punished for  similarly, impulsive reward choices produces criminality  lack of sustained attachment prevents relationships

2C. language deficit  Don't process emotional words properly  Know what they mean but don't have emotional associations with them  Know the words, but not the music

3. Socio-cultural Sources –Family problems - Lee Robins (1966) divorce, conflict, inconsistent discipline, parental conflicts in parenting style, alcoholic parents –Childhood abuse and neglect – 50 percent greater arrests among those who were neglected, 100 percent greater arrests among those who were physically abused

MORE on CASE STUDIES

Paul Bernardo & Karla Homulka

 Paul and Karla  Lethal combination

Paul Bernardo  Hamilton, Ontario  University graduate  Successful accountant

Karla Homolka  Hamilton, Ontario  University graduate  Veterinary assistant

Antisocial activities  Paul had prior girlfriends but abused them  He and Karla had a sado-masochistic sex life  They drugged, raped and murdered three women  Including Karla’s sister  They filmed the activities to watch later  Which one was the worst psychopath?

Karla wins  Karla turns Paul to police  Gets special deal – 12 years in prison  Paul gets life in prison – no chance of parole

Vancouver, BC Clifford Olson

Antisocial activities  Arrests for include theft, assault, escape (7 times), rape, dangerous driving  At least 11 murders including many children  Victims sexually assaulted and mutilated

character  Early delinquency  Social charm  Story teller

Manipulation  Avoids arrest for 11 murders  Mocks police until arrest  Manipulates federal government  Special privileges in prison  “Vacations” to Vancouver 