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In the September/October edition of Scientific American Mind, there’s a compelling cover story titled “Inside the Mind of a Psychopath.” The article, authored by Kent A. Kiehl and Joshua W. Buckholtz, reveals that some of the most ruthless individuals may not be inherently bad; rather, they suffer from brain abnormalities that leave them in an emotionless state.
Kiehl is known for utilizing fMRI technology to study the brains of incarcerated psychopaths. This recent piece serves as an insightful overview of the psychopathic personality disorder. It outlines the defining traits of psychopaths, illustrated by unsettling anecdotes, and provides a brief examination of the biological underpinnings of the disorder, highlighting specific abnormal brain regions. The article thoroughly discusses research that illustrates how psychopaths differ from the general population.
The authors focus on individuals who meet the clinical definition of a psychopath, which requires a minimum score of 30 out of 40 on the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R). While this research perspective is understandable, it poses a significant issue for society.
The PCL-R was developed by Dr. Robert Hare, and the article summarizes its methodology. The evaluation consists of 20 traits and behaviors, with a clinician assigning scores of 0, 1, or 2 based on how closely each trait aligns with the subject’s characteristics. This assessment incorporates both interviews and a review of the individual’s history, which is crucial since psychopaths often present charming personas while conveniently omitting their troubling pasts.
The PCL-R Assesses Traits Such As:
- Antisocial behavior (e.g., impulsivity, irresponsibility)
- Emotional/interpersonal traits (e.g., lack of empathy, pathological lying)
- Other factors (e.g., frequency of committing crimes)
The highest possible score on the PCL-R is 40, indicating that every item closely matches the individual’s behavior. To qualify as a true psychopath, one must score at least 30.
Regarding prevalence, the stringent criteria for diagnosing psychopathy mean that the number of individuals with this disorder is reported as significantly lower than what is often discussed in resources like Lovefraud. According to the article:
- Psychopaths represent 0.5 to 1 percent of the general population.
- Adjusting for children and women—who are less frequently diagnosed—this suggests about 250,000 psychopaths living freely in the U.S.
- Researchers estimate that the U.S. prison system houses between 500,000 psychopaths.
- Roughly 15 to 35 percent of U.S. prisoners are psychopaths.
- Psychopaths tend to offend earlier and more violently, with a four to eight times greater likelihood of reoffending upon release.
- Kiehl estimates that the costs associated with prosecuting and incarcerating psychopaths, along with the damage they inflict on others, amounts to an annual total of $250 billion to $400 billion.
What about those who score below 30 on the PCL-R? The article touches on this only lightly in a sidebar titled “Do You Know a Psychopath?” It notes that everyone exists somewhere on the psychopathy spectrum, with the average person scoring around 4. Many individuals, however, may rank in the teens or 20s—too low for an official diagnosis yet still exhibiting significant psychopathic tendencies, such as a bullying boss or the irresponsible friend taking advantage of others.
The authors, Kiehl and Buckholtz, may have overlooked the implications of these lower scores, leaving a gap in understanding the broader psychopathy issue. Why is there such a focus on those who meet the more severe criteria?
The underreporting of psychopathy prevalence can minimize awareness of the potential dangers posed by individuals exhibiting psychopathic traits, even those who don’t reach the 30-point threshold. This is detrimental to society. For more on understanding the nuances of psychopathy, check out this resource.
Additionally, it’s important to acknowledge that psychopathic traits can manifest in children. Dr. Robert Hare has even created a version of the PCL-R for evaluating children as young as 12. Yet, the emphasis on prisoners in psychopathy research leads to a significant underestimation of the risk posed by individuals with milder psychopathic traits.
For anyone seeking more information on recognizing and avoiding toxic individuals, resources like Out of the Fog and Wikipedia can provide valuable insights.
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