Inside the Mind of a Psychopath
Whether we recognize the psychopath as the serial murderer in a film or the unexpressive character in a book, we have a harder time acknowledging them in our real world. Psychopathic individuals can be hard to recognize in a world crawling with mental illnesses because, unlike the physical symptoms we see in severe mental illnesses, such as hallucinations, agitation, or hostility, psychopaths do not completely manifest signs of any physical sort. So then, what are the distinctive personality characteristics that set psychopaths apart, and what causes them?
The Arousal Theory
There are many theories being researched to pinpoint some of the areas that we see most unique in psychopathic individuals. A few of the psychology-centered reasons include social learning, “moral insanity”, fear, and selective attention deficits. Another popular area of study is the arousal theory, used to describe the lack of emotions experienced by most psychopaths. This theory assumes that there exists a relationship between arousal level and sensory intake. It also would mean a typical, optimal level of arousal in individuals is present. As authors Vien and Beech write, deficits in fear responses can be defined by the failure to display normal defensive actions, which are usually demonstrated through aversion cues (Vien, Beech 157). The arousal theory dives into the cause of a weak emotion scale due to low cortical arousal and hyperactivity. Therefore concludes, psychopaths require a greater intensity of sensory input to experience what we typically recognize as stress or excitement.
Are Psychopaths Biologically Unique?
A greater concern of investigation lies in the neurobiological aspect of these individuals. One of the bases for these studies is amygdala dysfunctions, one of the principal causes of the difficulty in emotional processing. According to multiple studies, the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI has provided evidence to support that criminal psychopaths experience less activity in areas of the amygdala compared to non-psychopathic criminal and noncriminal individuals (Vien, Beech 158). However, further research would need to be conducted to answer why psychopaths exhibit amygdala dysfunction.
While the structure of the brain is important in the research of psychopaths, the chemistry inside the brain is just as considerable. 5-HIAA has most influenced the chemical studies of psychopaths as it is the metabolic residue of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for our moods, and is often associated with feeling happy. A frequently found piece of information is low levels of 5-HIAA found in the spinal fluid of younger males were most associated with personality disorder and criminal activity, such as murders and impulsive arsons. Low levels of 5-HIAA in spinal fluid are most linked with individuals experiencing serotonin deficit. Once believed to commonly indicate depression, a lack of serotonin has been connected to impulsivity leading to violence and aggression. Something interesting to note about serotonin, that is still being investigated, is its similarity to the mechanisms as seen in testosterone. This is significant for two reasons. The first is testosterone’s link to dominance, thus serotonin’s influence in dominance behavior leads to aggression. The second is it poses a new question for research. Understanding the interaction between testosterone and serotonin and linking its results to the fact that women have lower levels of 5-HIAA than men, peaks interest in the role of the individual's sex in a psychopath's biological makeup.
Does Treatment Exist?
A deeper look into the mind of a psychopath can reveal possible treatments, after all, it is a form of mental illness. For years, we have labeled psychopaths as untreatable individuals and stuck them in prisons and forensic hospitals due to violence concerns. The common treatments were in-patient treatment programs, most of which actually further enhanced a psychopath's ability to deceive and manipulate others. The psychopathic treatment program or PTP, is often referred to as a strategy, not a treatment for longer-term self-improvement. Many of the prescribed medications are similar to those used for schizophrenia in order to control aggression and impulsivity. Some of these include Lithium, Divalproex sodium, Valproic acid, Phenytoin, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac.
The truth is we are comfortable labeling psychopaths as violent criminals, often due to our hesitation to approach the issue with an open mind. A lot of the time, we jump to conclusions and give into stereotypes, however, we leave out the groundwork for our beliefs, science. Although most research begins with theories and further investigation is required to discover stronger links between psychopathic tendencies and changes in the structure of the brain or chemical makeup, we can conclude that the development of these traits stems from a widespread dysfunction in multiple areas of the brain and deficits in their chemical composition.
Works Cited
Bernhardt, P. C. (1997). Influences of Serotonin and Testosterone in Aggression and Dominance: Convergence with Social Psychology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 6(2), 44–48. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20182442.pdf
Herbert, W. (1982). The Case of the Missing Hormones. Science News, 122(18), 282–282. https://doi.org/10.2307/3967284
Vein, A., & Beech, A. R. (2006). Psychopathy: Theory, Measurement, and Treatment. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 7(3), 155-174. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26636184.pdf
