by Rebecca Palmer

Created on: February 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

Psychopathy both terrifies and fascinates us. People actively follow news of a serial killer and eat up stories similar to Jeffery Dahmer or Hannibal Lector. Yet, despite this morbid fascination, it seems almost beyond the realm of (normative) human understanding to comprehend the depths of this disorder. Although the symptoms of psychopathy (also known as antisocial personality disorder) are relatively easy to recognize and diagnose, its etiology remains enigmatic. For over a century theorists have battled with the concept of psychopathy and its roots; even with modern assessment techniques they have yet to reach a concrete conclusion. Because of the varied theories on what causes psychopathy, one can infer its multidimensionality. Undoubtedly there are different paths that lead to the same disorder; trait theory, neurobiology and developmental concerns are only the tip of this etiological iceberg.

Classified in the DSM-IV as antisocial personality disorder, the word psychopathy has permeated our vernacular to almost everyday usage. However, the disorder goes much further than the "psychopathic driver" that one so often encounters. Mostly men, individuals with this disorder seem to lack almost all human emotions and are able to commit the most violent of crimes without blinking. According to the DSM-IV, antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed by a pattern of affect and behavior that is inflexible, all pervasive, has its onset in adolescence or childhood (as conduct disorder before age 15) and deviates considerably from the social norm (as cited in Black, 1999). In addition to those criterions, one must have repeated disregard for the rights of others as well as general recklessness, impulsivity, deceitfulness, lack of remorse, and irresponsibility (as cited in Davison et al, 2004). They often are of normal intelligence and are able to manipulate others for their own gain through a superficial charm and deviousness (with a lack of remorse or empathy) (Claridge & Davis, 2003).
This lack of empathy allows psychopaths to commit violent and nefarious criminal acts without the slightest personal upset. In fact, for a disorder that only effects 1% of the general population, psychopaths commit a disproportionate amount of the crimes that occur; nearly 15% to 25% of the prison population has antisocial personality disorder (Kiehl et al, 2001). The various crimes that are committed by these individuals are often predatory and premeditated, with a sadistic quality

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