According to Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist Revised, (PCL-R) (2003) a psychopath can be defined as being irresponsible, showing a lack of empathy, cunning, and lack of remorse or guilt among other characteristics.
Murphy and Vess’ (2008) work expanded in this to define a psychopath as having a lack of conscience. In the film, "We Need to Talk About Kevin", Kevin’s behaviour is compatible with this definition as he shows lack of remorse throughout the whole film, to not only the murders he committed but also the callous and planned way in which he did it. There is also suspicion that he caused the loss of his sisters eye although they is no proof for this, if it is true he has no guilt for it as he says she will need to ‘suck it up.’
Murphy and Vess go forward in their definition by saying that a psychopath seeks their own pleasure at the expense of others. Kevin portrays this behaviour in the film when he destroys his mother painstaking work of hanging the maps in her room. He knows the work she put in but he shoots paint all over them. His body language and smirk suggest he knows how he would make his mother feel but he is only interested in his own enjoyment.
The self-fulfilment is also shown later in his life with how he treats his sister. He does not care how she is feeling as long as he is getting what he wants. Furthermore, in a more warped sense of self pleasure when his mother walks in on him when he is masturbating he does not stop. This shows he does not care for others and how they may be feeling. His mother is obviously shocked and uncomfortable but he carries on despite this. His actions show that he is only interested in himself, not those around him, this behaviour reflects that of a psychopath.
Throughout the f...
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...r is centred around him getting some sort of twisted revenge and it would be important to show how his behaviour is self-defeating, however the implementation of a VRP alongside would help prevent relapses.
Works Cited
bowlby.html Murphy, C. & Vess, J. (2003). Subtypes of psychopathy- Proposed differences between narcisstic, borderline, sadistic, and antisocial psychopaths. Psychiatric Quarterly, 74, 11 – 29.Hare, R. D. 2003. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, second edition, Toronto- Multi-Health SystemsBowlby, J. (1951). Maternal Care and Mental Health. World Health Organization MonographBowlby, J. (1969). Attachment. Attachment and Loss- Vol. 1. Loss. New York- Basic Books.Schaffer, H. R. & Emerson, P. E. (1964). ‘The Development of Social Attachments in Infancy’. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 29 (3), serial number 94-
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...ny requirements for a psychopath, even though a formal test like the PCL-R cannot be completed because he took away his own life before investigation was final. However, he is similar to a few psychopaths that this course studied over the past nine weeks making it possible to compare him. Some aspects are still questionable of Keyes’s, like his childhood, but otherwise he does represent much of what has been learned of the psychopath in this class.
A psychopath is someone who is unable to live harmoniously in society due to their profound lack of compassion, empathy, conscience, and remorse (Hare, 1993). Many psychopathic symptoms have been proposed to result from cognitive and emotional processing impairments. The concept of a psychopath is often of a ruthless and dangerous criminal, an image commonly depicted in the media and film. Though psychopaths do make up an estimated 40% of dangerous offenders in Canada, it is the non-violent manipulators and cheaters, like white-collar criminals and unethical business people, who can have the most impact on the general population (Bonta & Motiuk; 1996, Hare, 1993). Therefore, understanding the cognitive bases and development of psychopathy can allow exploration into possible interventions and treatments, as well as identifying measures for use in diagnosing psychopathy in childhood and adolescence. Additionally, the deciphering of abnormal processes can give insight into normal functioning, thus helping to expand current knowledge. This paper reviews conclusions that processing of
...res of the psychopaths and gives the reader various examples of these individuals playing out these characteristics in everyday life. A widely used checklist is provided so the reader can get a wide spanning view of what is accounted for when scoring a psychopath. This form of research is very important within the deceitfulness of this population; it allows the professional to ignore their words and examine their actions. Hare made it clear that it is not uncommon for there to be an emotional and verbal disconnect from their actions. With virtually no emotional functioning psychopaths feel no remorse for the offenses that they commit and it is very important that we work towards using the opportunities we have to study and assist these populations; not only for them but for ourselves.
In the film, American Psycho, Patrick Bateman was a wealthy investment banker who also happened to be a serial killer. He was highly intelligent and was charming which attracted many of the women who came his way. Unlike most people in the world, he lived in constant pain. He was rarely happy with himself, and also hated everyone around him. He felt that he needed to inflict his pain on others in violent ways. He always had something disgusting to say such as, “I like to dissect girls; I am utterly insane.” It is outside of the norm to speak in this way, therefore he would be considered deviant. He displayed feelings of distress as he became frustrated very easily with himself and others. Everything
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