NCJ Number
57511
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
LINES OF THOUGHT AND RESEARCH ON FAMILY, SOCIAL, AND OTHER INFLUENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY ARE SURVEYED.
Abstract
PSYCHOPATHIC BEHAVIOR IS BOUND UP IN SYSTEMS--FIRST FAMILIAL, LATER SOCIETAL--THAT MAY ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE BEHAVIORS THEY CONDEMN. THE MAJOR PARENTAL INFLUENCE FOR THE PSYCHOPATH IS PATERNAL: PSYCHOPATHS FREQUENTLY HAVE PSYCHOPATHIC FATHERS. PSYCHOPATHY RARELY IF EVER BEGINS IN ADULTHOOD. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANTISOCIAL SYMPTOMS IN CHILDHOOD, THINGS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A BAD BACKGROUND (BROKEN HOME, SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION, ETC.) APPARENTLY DO NOT LEAD TO CHRONIC ADULT ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY IS THE EARLIEST SOCIALIZING INFLUENCE, IT IS NOT THE SOLE OR PERHAPS EVEN THE MOST CRUCIAL ONE. THE SOCIAL MILIEU CAN FOSTER OR INHIBIT PSYCHOPATHIC BEHAVIOR IN MANY WAYS. ONE SUCH INFLUENCE IS THE AMBIVALENCE OF SOCIETY TOWARD DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART IN TREATING PSYCHOPATHS REFLECTS THE ABSENCE OF A CLEAR ETIOLOGY. MUCH OF WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT TREATING PSYCHOPATHS WAS BEING SAID AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ABOUT NEUROTICS. AS THE DEFINITION OF PSYCHOPATHY IS REFINED AND THE GENESIS OF THE PHENOMENON BETTER UNDERSTOOD, NEW TREATMENT FORMS ARE TO BE ANTICIPATED. SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHOPATHY (E.G. THE PREPONDERANCE OF MALE PSYCHOPATHS, THE APPARENT NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEVIANCE OF PSYCHOPATHS, THE FACT THAT PRIMARY PSYCHOPATHY IS A DISTINCT SYNDROME WITH NO PROVED TREATMENT) ARE NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY BY SOCIAL, FAMILIAL, OR OTHER CORRELATES. SOCIOBIOLOGY--A PARADIGM THAT LINKS BEHAVIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND GENETIC--HOLDS PROMISE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THESE CHARACTERISTICS. IN DEALING WITH PSYCHOPATHS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THERAPISTS TO BE AWARE OF THE VALUE-LADEN, PEJORATIVE NATURE OF THE CONCEPT OF PSYCHOPATHY; TO KEEP IN MIND THE CONSEQUENCES OF APPLYING THE PSYCHOPATH LABEL; AND TO REMEMBER THAT PSYCHOPATHS ARE PERSONS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)