Psychopathy 

Introduction

Psychopaths are known to be cold blooded serial killers. Some of the most dangerous criminals are psychopaths, but not all the psychopaths are criminals. Some of the psychopaths are productive members of the society. Their ability to control fear and conscience makes them successful in their career paths. In this blog I will share with you what is psychopathy? can they ever have a social relationship with others? why do they enjoy what they do? what methods they usually use to commit crime? what are some of the less known facts about psychopaths', what career path some psychopaths like to chose? are they born as psychopaths and how to detect psychopathy in children? can psychopathy be treated? and the story of Dr. Fallen H. James who was a famous successful psychopath. 

What Is Psychopathy? 

A psychopath is a person who has a serious personality disorder. Psychopaths have a predatory nature that involves not caring for other people’s feelings and wanting to be violent and cruel towards them. Psychopaths don’t have an understanding of empathy. They don’t distinguish between right and wrong and don’t feel any remorse when they commit wrong. Lack of remorse also makes them pathological liars. All of the psychopaths are narcissists but all the narcissists are not psychopaths. 

Can A Psychopath Ever Have Social Relationship?

Psychopaths cannot have a true emotional relationship with anyone. They excel at making a superficial bond with someone and later on using it for their own benefit. They don’t see other people as human beings; they like to manipulate others, use them and betray them. At the same time psychopaths are known to be charming, loveable and easygoing. 

Why Do The Psychopaths Enjoy What They Do?

One worth asking question is why do they enjoy what they do? and the answer is that dopamine which is the chemical in the brain that is responsible for reward, pleasure, satisfaction and motivation is over produced in a psychopath’s brain. 

Methods To Execute Crime

Psychopaths commit a crime in a way that poses least risk to themselves. They plan to avoid detection and make a back up plan if things go wrong. Lack of empathy causes them to not feel any remorse for their behavior. 

Career Paths

Some of the well known serial killers were psychopath. But some psychopaths like to have a career. Some of their favorite career choices are working as a police officer, attorney, doctor or becoming a CEO. They like to manipulate people’s behavior and mimic human social emotions to get respect and become successful in their careers. 

Less Known Facts About Psychopaths

Psychopaths need constant stimulation. They get bored very easily; the reason why what could be so important to them previously might suddenly not have any importance at all. They lose interests in things and constantly look for more exciting things. They quit their commitments if they get bored. 

Are Psychopaths Born As Psychopaths?

Psychopathy is thought to be a genetic disorder. It is worth acknowledging that psychopathy is not listed as a mental disorder on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM.) but rather perceived as emotional detachment and antisocial behavior. When looking at the brain scan of psychopaths, amygdala which is the part of the brain that is related to harmful or scary situations and also control emotions is dysfunctional in psychopaths. Environment can also contribute to psychopathy to some extent, it is a non-genetic risk factor. Risk factors are not same as the cause but some risk factors such as abuse, neglect or rejection can influence and exacerbate a psychopath's behavior. 

How To Detect Psychopathy In Children? 

Children who lack empathy and are callous; they show shallow emotions and don’t feel any guilt when they do wrong are more likely to grow up as psychopaths. Aggression and antisocial behavior is also associated with psychopathy. It is worth knowing that by many people antisocial behavior is perceived as someone who doesn't want to socialize with others which is not the correct definition of antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior people are anti social because they are anti of norms of the society. They break rules of the society and can be extremely dangerous as they believe the rules don't apply to them and they don't have any remorse for committing wrong. Symptoms of antisocial behavior and psychopathy do overlap; the significant difference is that a person with antisocial behavior is impulsive whereas a psychopath makes calculated moves and plan things carefully.  

Treatment

While psychopaths cannot be cured but their behavior can be managed. If in the children it is detected at early stage, family-focused therapy can be used at home to manage a child’s behavior. Other than psychotherapy, behavioral skill therapy is also known to be the best approach to treat psychopaths.  

Dr. James H. Fallon: A Famous Successful Psychopath

Dr. James. H Fallon was a neuroscientist and a professor of psychiatry. He made a significant contribution to neuroscience projects and was one of the world’s first researchers to study the brain stem cells. He appeared on many documentaries on multiple channels including History Channel and BBC. Dr. Fallon revealed while studying the brain scans to search for pattern that correlates with psychopathic behavior; he did his own brain scan and discovered his own brain has a genetic pattern of a psychopath. He categorized himself as pro-social psychopath. He shared even though he displayed callous behavior as a child, would take risks and has put others in a dangerous situations but the positive experience in his childhood nulled his genetic vulnerability to violence and having anti social problems. Dr. Fallon was successful family man and a scientist.