Psychopathic Personality Disorder

Hollywood often depicts Psychopaths as charming and cruel individuals. But is this an accurate portrayal?

Psychopathy, sometimes referred to as Anti-social Personality Disorder or Dissocial Personality Disorder, is a psychological construct describing immoral and anti-social behaviour. Psychopaths use manipulation, intimidation, charm, sex and violence to get what they want from other people without remorse, guilt or conscience. The condition is deemed incurable and untreatable by psychologists, in part because psychopaths become adept at manipulating others - including the therapists trying to treat them – and often find ingenious ways of concealing their true thoughts and behaviour.  Psychopaths are also highly impulsive and as a result may end up committing crime. They have difficulty tolerating boredom and are often thrill seeking.

According to the Mental Health Act psychopathy is described as “a persistent disorder or disability of mind (whether or not including significant impairment of intelligence) which results in abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned.”

What causes this behaviour? There are a number of childhood indicators including extended periods of bed wetting, cruelty to animals, vandalism, pathological lying, aggression, truancy and theft. However, these indicators all have ties to other disorders. Psychopathy is believed to be the result of poor early socialisation, which in turn reduces gray matter in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. These areas of the brain control emotional learning and behaviour, decision making and impulse control. As with many psychological conditions the nature versus nurture debate continues. Do physical symptoms occur as the result of poor socialisation, or vice-versa.

It is estimated that 1% of the population are psychopaths. Many are driven, creative and successful people in their own right, at least until their real motives and behaviour becomes apparent. Others end up in institutions including mental health facilities and jail.