This hasn’t escaped your attention. In the cinema, the psychopath is often presented as a cold, violent killer devoid of any emotion or empathy. And he’s scary. However, the reality is very different. Psychopathy is not just about criminality, and the vast majority of those affected never commit murder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defines this disorder as a lasting pattern of contempt and transgression of the rights of others appearing from adolescence.
Studies estimate that it affects around 1% of the general population. It is therefore possible to come across, in your personal or professional life, a person with psychopathic traits without ever knowing it.
As Nadja Heym, doctor of psychopathology, recalls:“While it is true that most serial killers are indeed psychopaths, the vast majority of psychopaths are not serial killers. They can be perfectly productive members of society.”
The 20 traits that characterize psychopathy
To better identify this psychological functioning, Canadian psychologist Robert Hare developed the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), a reference tool used in particular in forensic psychiatry. This grid brings together 20 characteristics which, when present over a long period of time, can lead to a psychopathic profile.
Among the main features are:
- Superficial charm and great interpersonal skills;
- Exaggerated self-esteem;
- A constant need for stimulation and novelty;
- A tendency to lie and manipulate;
- An absence of remorse or guilt;
- Shallow emotions;
- A lack of empathy;
- Difficulty assuming the consequences of one’s actions;
- Significant impulsivity;
- Chronic irresponsibility;
- Poor control of behavior;
- An opportunistic or parasitic lifestyle;
- Difficulties in building long-term projects;
- Behavioral problems from childhood or adolescence;
- An unstable emotional life, with numerous short-term relationships;
- As well as a history of delinquency or antisocial behavior in certain individuals.
Taken in isolation, none of these traits suggests psychopathy. It is their accumulation, their intensity and their persistence over time that guide specialists.
How do psychologists assess psychopathy?
Robert Hare’s grid assigns each of the 20 criteria a score of 0 (trait absent), 1 (partially present) or 2 (clearly present). The total score can therefore vary from 0 to 40.
In North American countries, a score of around 30 points is generally used to suggest psychopathy, while some countries, such as the United Kingdom, use a slightly lower threshold.
But contrary to what one might believe, this test is not completed in a few minutes. And don’t just count the points. It requires an in-depth clinical interview, often lasting around two hours, supplemented by the analysis of the life course, medical and legal files and testimonies from those around them. Psychologists systematically cross-reference all this information, because people with psychopathy often tend to minimize or distort reality.
Can we use this list to recognize a loved one?
The answer is…no. These personality traits are not enough to qualify your son-in-law as a psychopath. Specialists also warn against “homemade” diagnoses. Having a loved one who is manipulative, egocentric or unempathetic does not mean they are psychopathic.
The PCL-R is a tool reserved for professionals trained in its use, mainly in the fields of psychiatry and forensic psychology. The diagnosis is always based on a complete clinical evaluation, taking into account the person’s life history, their overall functioning and the criteria defined by the DSM. In other words, these 20 traits provide a better understanding of what psychopathy is, but are never enough, on their own, to make a diagnosis.