Jump to content

28 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: Timeline
Posted

As exaggerated as many popular depictions of psychopaths often are, many nevertheless do pose a genuine danger to others. So what makes psychopaths the way they are?

Scientists are now working toward uncovering the roots of this disorder in the brain. Their research could lead to ways to intervene against the disorder and hopefully prevent it from manifesting.

But answers remain elusive, in part because it's no easy (or safe) task to study the brain of the typical psychopath.

"Psychopaths are often big trouble for those around them," said clinical psychologist Joseph Newman at the University of Wisconsin. "If we can find out what underlies their problems, we might be able to identify what kinds of interventions might be able to work for them."

Who they are

Psychopaths are thought to make up as much as roughly 1 percent of the general populace and up to 25 percent of the prison population.

"Criminal psychopaths are about three times more likely to commit violence than other offenders and about two-and-a-half times more likely to commit other antisocial acts such as lying and sexual exploitation," Newman explained.

"Although not all psychopaths are violent, their kind of behavior is very destructive socially, and hurts our trust of other people," he added. "And many people in prison who might otherwise be treated sympathetically aren't given the chance they deserve because people have trouble distinguishing them from true psychopaths."

Scientists investigating the disorder commonly agree that psychopaths are often marked by the following traits:

  • Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse
  • Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions
  • Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior
  • Superficial charm and glibness
  • Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions
  • A grandiose sense of their own worth
"There are people who are impulsive, at high risk of substance abuse, who are high in emotionality, whom many people call psychopaths, but that is more what we'd call an externalizing syndrome," Newman said. Many scientists researching psychopathy see it as an emotionally cold disorder.

What's going on

When it comes to locating the areas in the brain where psychopathy might have its roots, scientists have a number of suspects. One brain region less active in psychopaths is the amygdala, which is normally linked with fear.

"There's a lot of history regarding psychopathy as a disorder of fear," Newman said. "Fear is what keeps the rest of us in line, helps us learn what society wants us to do and not do to keep us out of trouble, and the idea is that psychopaths do whatever they want to do."

Another brain area that scientists have probed in psychopaths is the orbital frontal cortex or regions within it, as damage there leads to poor decision making, "which could be a plausible model of psychopathy," Newman explained.

Neuroscientist Kent Kiehl at the University of New Mexico suggests psychopathy is rooted in the "paralimbic system." Included within this network of brain regions are the amygdala and orbital frontal cortex, as well as other areas involved with emotions, inhibitions and attention.

Although regions linked with feelings often receive a great deal of attention in research into psychopathy, there are hints the disorder impacts more than just emotions. "Studies have shown psychopaths can have trouble processing words dealing with abstract concepts or emotional content," Newman said. "When investigating psychopathy, you want to look at the full range of deficits that are present, not just the emotional ones, to really account for what might be going on."

Nature vs. nurture

Past research, including studies with twins, suggest there is a genetic predisposition to psychopathy. Still, it remains uncertain how much their environment influences the development of the disorder. "Just because one has a predisposition doesn't mean that they have to end up behaving that way," Newman said.

It remains hard to get to the root of psychopathy, since the most recognizable group of psychopaths are criminals, "and bringing prisoners out to get their brains scanned puts a lot of people in risk, so it's very complicated to do," Newman said.

Still, understanding the roots of psychopathy in the brain hopefully will lead "to an ability to identify and negate the problem,," Newman said. "By finding out what predisposes someone toward psychopathy and how these vulnerabilities interact with the environment to give rise to a full-blown case of the disorder, I believe one might be able to prevent the unfortunate development of psychopathy."

http://www.livescience.com/culture/090831-...ath-brains.html

Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth.

Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Egypt
Timeline
Posted
* Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse

* Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions

* Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior

* Superficial charm and glibness

* Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions

* A grandiose sense of their own worth

Uh oh...sounds like my husband. :o :o :o :o

Don't just open your mouth and prove yourself a fool....put it in writing.

It gets harder the more you know. Because the more you find out, the uglier everything seems.

kodasmall3.jpg

Filed: Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted
* Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse

* Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions

* Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior

* Superficial charm and glibness

* Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions

* A grandiose sense of their own worth

Uh oh...sounds like my husband. :o :o :o :o

Sounds like me :lol:

biden_pinhead.jpgspace.gifrolling-stones-american-flag-tongue.jpgspace.gifinside-geico.jpg
Filed: Timeline
Posted
* Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse

* Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions

* Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior

* Superficial charm and glibness

* Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions

* A grandiose sense of their own worth

Uh oh...sounds like my husband. :o:o:o:o

Sounds like me :lol:

:lol:

yes I posted this for Steve to continue his diagnosis

Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth.

Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Egypt
Timeline
Posted
:lol: He's crazier than I am.

Don't just open your mouth and prove yourself a fool....put it in writing.

It gets harder the more you know. Because the more you find out, the uglier everything seems.

kodasmall3.jpg

Filed: IR-5 Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted
:secret:

ppe47ozqawgdn.png


HappyDancer is a proud wife to a country boy in KY.

I-130 for Parents (Mom and Dad)

3.15.2014: Mailed I-130 Packet for Mom and Dad

3.21.2014: Received email notification with case # for both petitions; case forwarded to NBC for processing

3.21.2014: Check cashed

3.22.2014: Hard copy NOA1 received

4.08.2014: Both I-130 approved (notification received via email) - It only took three weeks!!!

4.11.2014: Received NOA2 approval notice in the mail.

5.01.2014: Called NVC to ask for status of paperwork. Advised they received both application on 4.28. Advised to call in 30 business days for an update.

6.02.2014: Email notification received from NVC that shows parents' NVC case number and instructions to pay AOS Fee and fill out DS 261.

6.03.2014: Paid AOS fee ($88 for both petitions)

N400:
4.26.2013: Mailed N400 Packet

5.21.2013: Biometrics

7.18.2013: Testing and Interview

9.25.2013: Oath Ceremony

Medical at St. Lukes:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/183224-experience-medical-at-st-lukes-extension-clinic/

K1 with K2 Visa Interview:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/184246-usem-interview-on-march-10-at-7am-approved/page__p__2728465#entry2728465

CFO:Review, tips and advise:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/186123-cforeview-tips-and-advise/

Posted

no such thing as a psychopath..antisocial..asocial personalith disorder, perhaps,....

psychopath is a movie term, these days

Peace to All creatures great and small............................................

But when we turn to the Hebrew literature, we do not find such jokes about the donkey. Rather the animal is known for its strength and its loyalty to its master (Genesis 49:14; Numbers 22:30).

Peppi_drinking_beer.jpg

my burro, bosco ..enjoying a beer in almaty

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...st&id=10835

Filed: Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted
* Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse

* Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions

* Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior

* Superficial charm and glibness

* Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions

* A grandiose sense of their own worth

Uh oh...sounds like my husband. :o:o:o:o

Sounds like me :lol:

:lol:

yes I posted this for Steve to continue his diagnosis

I don't think my charm and glibness are superficial; they are rooted in a fundamental divergence that will not be explained away by conventional wisdom.

biden_pinhead.jpgspace.gifrolling-stones-american-flag-tongue.jpgspace.gifinside-geico.jpg
Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
  • Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse
  • Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions
  • Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior
  • Superficial charm and glibness
  • Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions
  • A grandiose sense of their own worth
This describes my ex POS to a "T"! He thought he was God's gift to this earth. His mother thought so too. I figured out pretty quick something was just not right about him...of course he still thinks he's perfect. :wacko:

Teaching is the essential profession...the one that makes ALL other professions possible - David Haselkorn

Filed: Timeline
Posted
  • Lack of empathy, guilt, conscience or remorse
  • Shallow experiences of feelings or emotions
  • Impulsivity and a weak ability to defer gratification and control behavior
  • Superficial charm and glibness
  • Irresponsibility and a failure to accept responsibility for their actions
  • A grandiose sense of their own worth
This describes my ex POS to a "T"! He thought he was God's gift to this earth. His mother thought so too. I figured out pretty quick something was just not right about him...of course he still thinks he's perfect. :wacko:

just add "terrible in bed" and it is like a pic of my ex, as well :rofl:

Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Egypt
Timeline
Posted

I think the term used now days is sociopath.

Don't just open your mouth and prove yourself a fool....put it in writing.

It gets harder the more you know. Because the more you find out, the uglier everything seems.

kodasmall3.jpg

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...