Have you ever noticed that when looking at a person, there are a few things we take for granted? When we look at a stranger, we presume that they see the world in roughly the same way as us, that we all know certain basic facts and that words mean the same things to every individual. We assume that we have pretty similar ideas of right and wrong. However, for a fraction of the population, things are very different. These people lack remorse and empathy, and they feel emotion only shallowly. In what they presume is an extreme case, they might not care whether you live or die. These people are called psychopaths. Despite the fact that people look over it, psychopaths are indeed suffering from a mental disease. Some of them are violent criminals, murderers, but by no means all. And as overlooked by many people, psychopathy is preventable and curable.
Psychopathy is not seen by most as an illness. However, much like depression, it is a mental disease- a mere disfunction of the brain. And just like depression, it can be cured. However most psychopaths don’t want help. They are manipulative, and can disguise their intentions by pretending to be an average human being. Therefore, if jailed, they can manipulate their way out. But once on the outside, they can go back to their old ways. However, treating psychopaths would help them change their mindset. Brains, much like clay, can be easily moulded or shaped. Therefore, psychopath’s intentions can change based on the help they received. If treated instead of jailed, they can change their mindset so they would not be suffering any disease, or putting anybody in danger.
Psychopathy is among the most difficult disorders to spot. A psychopath may appear normal, even charming. Underneath, they lack conscience and empathy, making them manipulative, violent and maybe sometimes, criminals. As first described and stated by Medical College of Georgia psychiatrist Hervey M. Cleckley in 1941, “Psychopathy consists of a specific set of personality traits and behaviors.” As mentioned, psychopaths are charming on the surface and tend to make a good first impression on others. They often strike observers as remarkably normal. However, their disease makes them self-centered, dishonest and undependable at heart. Sometimes, they could engage in violent or dangerous behavior for no apparent reason other than the sheer fun of it.
Research by psychologists such as Randall T. Salekin, indicates that psychopathy is a risk factor for future physical and sexual violence. It is true that some serial killers, much like Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Dennis Rader and the ‘BTK’ (Bind, Torture, Kill) murderer, are psychopaths. They exhibit numerous psychopathic traits, including “superficial charm” and a “profound absence of guilt and empathy”. However, not all psychopaths are violent people, and not all violent people are psychopaths. For example, the horrific Virginia Tech shootings of April 2007 was followed by many newspaper commentators describing the killer, Seung-Hui Cho, as ‘psychopathic’. However, he displayed minimal traits of psychopathy. Those who knew him described him as “markedly shy, withdrawn and peculiar.” A test done using the 20-item Hare Psychopathy Checklist, proved that Cho was not a psychopath, but merely a person with violent intentions.
In contrast to people with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, who often lose contact with reality, psychopaths are almost always rational. They are well aware when their actions are wrong in the eyes of society, however, they shrug off these concerns with startling unconcern. Furthermore, it is most definitely true that psychopaths rarely learn from their mistakes or benefit from negative feedback. However, this is why they should not be jailed, but should be treated instead. Their diseased minds are largely devoid of guilt, empathy and love, however, they can pretend otherwise. They can easily offer excuses for their actions, and place the blame on others instead. They have difficulty inhibiting their impulses, but if treated, they can change.
Although psychopaths are often unmotivated to seek treatment, research by psychologist Jennifer Skeem of the University of California, Irvine, and her colleagues suggests that “Psychopaths may benefit from psychological treatment.” Even if the core personality traits of psychopaths are exceedingly difficult to change, their criminal behaviors can be put an end to with the help of proper treatment. There are also currently programs to help “Prevent unemotional youth from maturing into psychopaths.” If people started to look at psychopaths as people that require help, psychopathy could stop being an issue.
In conclusion, psychopaths can, indeed be murderers. Not all of them commit crimes, but when they do something wrong, they are fully aware of it. However, they don’t have any control over these thoughts. Psychopaths want to be violent for no real purpose because they have a disfuncion in their brains. Psychopathy is a mental disease which a person can be born with. Or, a tragic incident could trigger it when they are young. It minimizes their views on everything in life, and creates a narrower mindset. Psychopaths have as much of a negative impact on themselves as they do on society, if not more. However, despite common knowledge, they can be cured, and violence can be prevented. Therefore, if a person is displaying signs of psychopathy, they should receive the proper treatment instead of being sent behind bars where they won’t even try to change, and could probably manipulate their way out. Psychopaths are not evil, psychopathy is.
Bibliography:
"Welcome to the Psychopathy Society." N.p., n.d. Web
"Is Psychopathy a Mental Disease? - Oxford Scholarship." Is Psychopathy a Mental Disease? - Oxford Scholarship. N.p., 05 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 June 2016.
"Is Psychopathy a Mental Illness? - Psychogendered." Psychogendered. N.p., 22 July 2015. Web. 12 June 2016.
"Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Case of Diagnostic Confusion." Psychiatric Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2016.
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