In the Mind of Psychopaths Essays

In the Mind of Psychopaths Essays In the Mind of Psychopaths Essay In the Mind of Psychopaths Essay Ravina Patel 1136613 General Psychology assignment- Wider awareness Pondering on psychopathic traits Aided by brain scans (MRI), scientists have found that psychopaths have significant brain impairments, which are decreased amount of grey matter in the brain responsible for processing empathy, moral reasoning and guilt that clearly affect their ability to feel emotions, and to react to other people’s distress. Also, other studies have linked the amygdala with psychopathic traits as this area is related to aggressive behavior. Abnormalities in other parts of the brain such as the orbitofrontal cortex have also been correlated to psychopathy, as this area is responsible for lying, irresponsibility, and lack of emotion. Brain scans have also shown that psychopaths (with mean, aggressive, rude attitude) have more activity in the part of the brain related to the expectation of rewards. Other than physical brain abnormalities, genes could also be playing a role on psychopathic behavior (monster-like behavior such as merciless killing, torturing, cannibalism, etc. . Psychopaths can also be considered as â€Å"natural born predators† as they tend to sense emotions such as fear accurately. Apart from biology, social upbringing can also be playing a role in psychopath’s lives. In fact, violent upbringing can contribute to psychopathic traits. However, psychopathic traits cannot be explained with simply one factor or another; it is a combination of biological traits, social traits, personal psychology and biochemical traits that are combined to explain psychopathic behavior. According to Dr. Robert Hare, the percentage of psychopaths in Canada goes up to 1% of the total population. One important distinction to make is that psychopaths are not necessarily murderous creatures. In fact, many of them may not even be criminals. However, people with lack of emotions, feelings, remorse or concern for other’s well being do tend to contribute to destroyed lives. Antisocial personality disorder (psychopath) is defined as â€Å"behavior outside any ethical and legal standard of society† (376). As stated in the article, the textbook confirms that the amygdala plays a key role in emotion, especially when it comes to fear and aggression (57,315). In accordance with the article, the textbook’s authors also state that psychopaths feel little distress for others and they see no wrong in their cruel behaviors toward others (376). From Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, morality in the first stages (childhood stages) is based on rewards, punishments and exchange of favors. On the conventional level, morality is based on the adherence of social rules and norms. Lastly, in the postcoventional level, individuals do the difference between what is right and what is wrong, and define morality in terms of social principles (274,275). Psychopaths do not seem to follow this path at all since their judgments are impaired with other brain abnormalities. In agreement with the article, psychopaths are not always criminals. Some may be politicians or even business people. Their impulsive behavior and lack of conscience harm people surrounding them (377). Unlike sane people, psychopaths â€Å"have abnormal low activity in the brain during stress periods† (they do not feel the pressure to perform well or whatsoever) and they have less grey matter in their frontal lobes (responsible for emotion, reasoning, and problem solving (377). In agreement with both the article and the textbook, lack of grey matter in the frontal lobe can also explain psychopath’s manipulative behaviors and impulsive acts. As stated in the article, the nurture environment plays a role in antisocial personality disorder. Abusive upbringing, anything from emotional deprivation to wrong disciplinary rules affects psychopaths (377). They also have low sense of moral development. In fact, they do not have a sharp sense of what is right and what is wrong (276). Killing and causing harm to others may not be considered â€Å"bad† from psychopaths’ judgment. Other people may be just perceived as mere objects of pleasure, or torture. The textbook and the articles basically state the same concepts of brain abnormalities to explain psychopathic behaviors. The amygdala, along with other regions of the brain can explain some cruel behaviors. Similarly, during the early stage of development of the child, some trauma such as violent upbringing can also accentuate violent behavior in the future. I found this article particularly interesting because psychopathic behaviors are not always subject to a lot of discussions. Psychopaths are hidden in society and we tend to live with them, not knowing how they can (or can’t) ruin our lives. Maybe someone close to us may present traits of a psychopath, but we ignore or deny it. I am almost fascinated by their relationship with the rest of humanity. I probably wont ever get over the fact that psychopaths are capable of doing inhuman acts and not find anything wrong to it (such as cannibalism). I used to think that psychopaths had completely different social behaviors, which made them very distinct from other people. Now I know that it is not the case. I can’t tell if someone close-minded, incapable of loving, insincere, impulsive, egocentric and harsh is dangerous or not. At some point, this feeling causes insecurity in its own environment.