Psychopathy And Culpability: What Is The Serial Killer?

1367 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Psychopathy and criminality

The media generally portrays the prototypical serial killer through the lens of two extremes. They can either have an incapacitating mental illness or be brilliant, but severely troubled, geniuses. Yet, neither of these two stereotypes are accurate, as serial killers generally display signs of psychopathy, which is not considered a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Despite the erroneousness of Hollywood’s movies and television shows, many psychologists and lawmakers are still considering the degree to which psychopaths can be considered responsible for their actions. In “Psychopathy and Culpability: How Responsible Is the Psychopath for Criminal Wrongdoing?” researchers Adam R. Fox, Trevor H. Kvaran, and Reid Griffith Fontaine attempt to draw conclusions from evidence on whether or not psychopaths meet the criteria for full criminal responsibility. Other researchers, such as Scott E. Culhane, Sage M. Hilstad, Adrienne Greng, and Matt J. Gray, use a case study to demonstrate that psychopathy is not synonymous with serial killers and that mental illness cannot necessarily be used in criminal cases to justify murder in their research paper titled “Self-Reported Psychopathology in a Convicted Serial Killer.” In the remaining two articles …show more content…

These character traits allow the psychopath to commit his atrocious acts. However, because the psychopath is rendered incapable of moral reasoning, the criminal legal system has a problem in justifying the punishment of one, as psychopathy intervenes with the person’s ability to be a normally functioning adult. Currently, psychopathy is not recognized as a mental illness by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR. Most psychopaths end up being diagnosed with ASPD, or Antisocial Personality

Show More
Related

  • Murderers and Serial Killers in the Chicago Area

    1733 Words  | 4 Pages

    An analysis of the most famous murderers and serial killers in the Chicago area shows varying degrees of psychopathy or mental illnesses, which ultimately contribute to homicidal comportment. Analysis also shows that...

    Read More

  • Donald Gaskins Personality Disorder

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    A well-known personality disorder is psychopathy. Psychopathy’s shortened term “psycho” is often used as a slang term to mean crazy. Psychopathy is a real issue caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Psychopathic people have traits “common to some serial murderers, including sensation seeking, a lack of remorse or guilt, impulsivity, the need for control, and predatory behavior. These traits and behaviors are consistent with the psychopathic personality disorder” (Morton). Psychopathic tendencies are most common among killers. Although, “serial killers suffer from a variety of personality disorders, including psychopathy, anti-social personality, and others” (Morton). With psychopathy in a serial killer they feel they have a valid and justifiable reason for killing three or more people. With psychopathic killers feel their motives make their killing okay. Serial killers have “many other motivations for serial murders including anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking” (Morton). A common motive for serial killers is revenge. They feel that someone did them wrong, much like a person who was abused as a child. They feel they have a valid excuse for murdering the person that abused them or substitutes if they find that object of their rage unreachable. Another common motive is simply anger. With anger it is more often than not that they do not have a target. They are just angry and are willing to kill anybody to cope with it. Antisocial personality disorder is often in people who show “a lack of remorse and/or guilt, shallow affect, a lack of empathy, and failure to accept responsibility” (Morton). Antisocial personality disorder is similar to psychopathic personality disorder yet, it remains different. The Behavior Analysis Unit at the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated, “Psychopathy is a personality disorder

    Read More

  • Psychopaths Responsibility

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    The responsibility of psychopaths is a highly debated topic in the legal, philosophical, and neuroscientific fields. In the US, a person is responsible if they “have sufficient rational capacity” and “they are not acting under coercion” (Glenn & Raine 2014). The majority of the academic community believes that psychopaths’ responsibility is mitigated because of the profound cognitive and emotional deficits that lead to a reduced rational capacity. However, the public’s instinct is to hold psychopaths responsible for their crimes. What is it that gives us this instinctive reaction?

    Read More

  • Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...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.

    Read More

  • How Serial Killers came to be

    1910 Words  | 4 Pages

    Several serial killers have a definitive and common personality profile. Almost every major social, biological, psychological behavioural influence that has been seriously suggested as playing a role in causing crime has been thoroughly thought as potentially contributing to the behavior of serial killers (Levin, 2008). The time period and amount of killings fluctuate depending on the individual committing the crimes. Usually, the murders happen in different geographical areas. A mass murder has a separate definition than a serial killer, because a serial killer has a “cooling off” period, where mass murders kill several individual in a single event.

    Read More

  • The Monsters Within: What Makes Serial Killers Different?

    1659 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Some werewolves are hairy on the inside.” Stephen King, a famous horror film writer and director, knows that serial killers are some of most evil but unrecognizable people in society. Walking down the street, serial killers go completely unnoticed. This “under the radar” way of living is what makes them very dangerous. Serial killers appear entirely normal on the outside, but it is what is on the inside that makes them unlike everybody else. Inside is where their minds are altered to accept all the morally unacceptable things that they do. Most of the evils they think and do root from abnormalities in their brains, or other imbalances in their bodies. Whether additional faults accompany their irrational behavior or not, serial killers are their own kind of human being.

    Read More

  • Biology of Serial Killers

    2199 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to Egan, serial killers may be grouped as psychotics or psychopaths. Psychotics are limited in number in the most of societies in the world. Th...

    Read More

  • The Cause of Serial Killers

    1915 Words  | 4 Pages

    Serial killers are the byproduct of many different things: trauma, death of loved ones, abuse, neglect, adoption, and even witnessing abuse (Are Serial). Serial killers have had to endure a massive amount of something such as trauma or abuse to an unimaginable extent to become what they are; the extent of the abuse, the trauma, the psychological damage they endure is incomprehensible to many. The destruction of one’s innocence can occur at any given time in his or her life, but he or she is more impressionable in his or her youth by the negativism of someone else’s actions (Scott, Shirley L. What Makes Serial Killers Tick ~ Childhood Event). People are susceptible to what they endure in their adolescence, and cruel upbringings, such as that of a serial killer’s, are possibly the determinant of their future.

    Read More

  • A Terrifying Glimpse Into The Mind Of A Serial Killer

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kent Kiehl from the University of New Mexico, says, “one in one hundred people is a serial killer” A deep experiment and deep understanding definition of a serial killer varies from brain functions, and how the different compartments work with each other to make the person who they are. From a start the separation from a serial killer to an average person begins with the Amygdala, two nuggets of tissue one at each half of the brain, this is the Brains Central Command Center, yet they are no bigger than a thumbnail, and is what processes the emotions of any act the human has committed. Research has now proven that there is another part of the brain that helps the Amygdala processes and respond to the actions, Is called the Frontal Lobe, one out of five lobes and this lobe helps to reason, make judgments, make plans for the near and far future, take action and problem solving. When the Amygdala and the Frontal Lobe work together, they send out signals to the body to react to certain situations, which not only varies from Serial Killer to an average person, it also varies from people to people. The function of these two parts of the brain, is what causes a person to feel guilty when they did something wrong, from stealing a cookie from the cookie jar to the first time skipping school and get caught. For example, if somebody had purposely broken a window, a state of panic comes into play and the person feels guilty, no matter how much they apologize, they still have the constant thought of “oh no, what have I done?”, however Serial Killers don’t have the state of panic. The Studies have shown that the Amygdala and the Frontal Lobe of the body, don’t necessarily communicate as properly like those of average people and that a Serial Kil...

    Read More

  • Is a Serial Killer Born or Created?

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.

    Read More

  • Psychopath Test Sparknotes

    538 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Psychopath Test, an inspired reporter retells his journey of uncovering the details of psychopathy and its controversy. Jon Ronson profiles incredible cases and controversial treatment demonstrating the ambiguity of psychopathy and the commonality of self-diagnosis. He asked the question “What does it mean to be a psychopath?”. Ronson's work is an extensive look at the bigger questions that society has about psychopathy, including some of its history. The American Psychological association does not address psychopathy the same way Ronson does in his book. The APA often refers to psychopathy as Antisocial Personality Disorder: characterized by a pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others by an adult. Psychopaths are

    Read More

  • Serial Killers: Nature Vs. Nurture

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today 's society seems entranced by serial killers in the news and media. Because of the worldwide coverage on serial killers, forensic psychiatrists have taken an interest in these people and often interview them after they have been caught. There are multiple studies and reports of individuals who have committed serial murders but only a small amount of reports on adolescents who have shown serious fantasies about becoming serial killers prior to actualizing their fantasy. This paper explores the question that has been asked for centuries. That question is whether or not serial killers are born the kill or driven to murder. Many sources were used in reference to nature vs. nurture, and research on serial killers and if its genetics or decisions. With real life examples, this paper will attempt to answer the unanswerable.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Robert D. Hare's Without Conscience

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    Robert D. Hare’s book Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us focuses on psychopathy in our society. In the book, the author highlights the characteristics of psychopaths in a simple manner that are understandable to an everyday reader. Psychopaths are individuals who are deceitful and manipulative and they don’t care who they hurt. Hare points out his personal experience with psychopath in prison that eventually lead him to create The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. In the Checklist, Hare emphasizes characteristics that makes someone a psychopath such as “shallow emotions, deceitful and manipulative behavior, lack of guilt, lack of empathy, impulsiveness, poor behavior control, lack of responsibility, need for excitement, early behavior problems, glib and grandiose behavior” (Hare 1993, p. 34). The author employs detailed interviews and a close study of psychopaths to research and create an instrument that could help detect psychopathy. In the book, Hare goes further to provide

    Read More

  • Essay On Criminal Psychopathy

    1579 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Understanding Psychopathy: A Complex Mental Illness

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    One ongoing controversy is whether if psychopathy is a genetic trait or if it is caused by environmental factor either trauma or the community. Researchers have said that those who have experienced child abuse and victimization have the likelihood of being violent and express sexually offending behavior as those traumas are considered risk factors. Empathy can be a genetic attribute or can even me progressed over time. In other words, it can be a motivated process that can be voluntary, which is why some suggest therapy. They also have said that therapy can help "rewire" this trait, yet it's counterproductive for many and can increase such behavior. Psychopathy has been associated with the antisocial disorder. Nevertheless, it can also consist of narcissistic, histrionic, and borderline disorder, which makes it difficult to categorize. Another thing researchers have noticed is that some psychopathic characteristics are adaptive and can be seen as helpful in society. What is meant by this is that having too much empathy can impede politicians' and police officers' ability to carry out their duties. Many in society have shown the opinion that those with mental illnesses have a clouded judgment and can't technically know what they are doing. Knowing this, some believe that those with psychopathy should excuse criminal responsibility and of course other say there is no excuse for committing a crime.

    Read More

More about Psychopathy And Culpability: What Is The Serial Killer?

Open Document