What is a psychopath? Take a minute to think about what this term implies and how it is used today. In fact, the term psychopath is a cultural term. The word psychopath is defined by the Urban Dictionary as someone who “tends to lack normal human emotions such as guilt” and are “often highly intelligent and skilled at manipulating others”. This source goes on to explain how “psychopaths seem to appear normal” and that “you would probably never guess there was something wrong with them”, but also includes an important note that “not all psychopaths are serial killers”. Looking to the DSM-IV, the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, we can see that the term used in the field of psychology that falls along this “psychopath” trend
…show more content…
Some of the main points that they infer in the novel include, that “it is not unusual for him to explain his actions by saying simply that he wanted to become famous and see his name in big headlines,” (Sjowall and Wahloo, 1970, p. 215). Another character trait that this novel brings into sight is how they “can appear quite normal” (214) and are often “described as considerate, kind, and polite” (215). In terms of the DSM-IV, rather than public acknowledgement, individuals with antisocial personality disorder will tend to commit unlawful acts specifically for their own “personal profit or pleasure” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 646). Therefore, in comparison with the novel, an agreement can be made that these individuals will do whatever it takes to make only themselves happy or help them gain a sense of power, whether it’s physical or psychological. In contrast, the idea of an individual with this disorder appearing normal, considerate, kind, and polite seems to be a huge misconception within the definitions used in our world that are filled with inspiration from the press and our own imagination when compared to the definitions used to characterize these people from a psychologist’s perspective. The DSM-IV defines those who suffer with antisocial personality disorder as individuals who “fail to conform to social norms” (p. 646) and “disregard …show more content…
To begin, we are presented with statements including, “[they are] minds that feed on fantasies of sexual aberrancies and violence” (Cornwell, 1990, p. 173), “[they are] obsessive and warped” (p. 182), “[they] can lie as easy as other people can breathe” (p. 472), and “[they are] able to function well enough to maintain an acceptable public persona” (p. 832). When we turn to the DSM-IV, we are presented with supporting evidence for all of the above statements except the last. In support of the first statement made by Cornwell, the DSM-IV criterion A, indicates that they are indeed driven by sex and violence to get their own way “as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 650) and they often “recklessly disregard the safety of self or others” (p. 650). These individuals may also “be irresponsible and exploitative in their sexual relationships” (p.647) and “have a history of many sexual partners and may never have sustained a monogamous relationship” (p. 647) which goes to show the irresponsibility and recklessness they seem to have in relation to their personal
Some of the main points that they infer in the novel include, that “it is not unusual for him to explain his actions by saying simply that he wanted to become famous and see his name in big headlines,” (Sjowall and Wahloo, 1970, p. 215). Another character trait that this novel brings into sight is how they “can appear quite normal” (214) and are often “described as considerate, kind, and polite” (215). In terms of the DSM-IV, rather than public acknowledgement, individuals with antisocial personality disorder will tend to commit unlawful acts specifically for their own “personal profit or pleasure” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 646). Therefore, in comparison with the novel, an agreement can be made that these individuals will do whatever it takes to make only themselves happy or help them gain a sense of power, whether it’s physical or psychological. In contrast, the idea of an individual with this disorder appearing normal, considerate, kind, and polite seems to be a huge misconception within the definitions used in our world that are filled with inspiration from the press and our own imagination when compared to the definitions used to characterize these people from a psychologist’s perspective. The DSM-IV defines those who suffer with antisocial personality disorder as individuals who “fail to conform to social norms” (p. 646) and “disregard …show more content…
To begin, we are presented with statements including, “[they are] minds that feed on fantasies of sexual aberrancies and violence” (Cornwell, 1990, p. 173), “[they are] obsessive and warped” (p. 182), “[they] can lie as easy as other people can breathe” (p. 472), and “[they are] able to function well enough to maintain an acceptable public persona” (p. 832). When we turn to the DSM-IV, we are presented with supporting evidence for all of the above statements except the last. In support of the first statement made by Cornwell, the DSM-IV criterion A, indicates that they are indeed driven by sex and violence to get their own way “as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 650) and they often “recklessly disregard the safety of self or others” (p. 650). These individuals may also “be irresponsible and exploitative in their sexual relationships” (p.647) and “have a history of many sexual partners and may never have sustained a monogamous relationship” (p. 647) which goes to show the irresponsibility and recklessness they seem to have in relation to their personal