Psychopathy remains one of the most complex personality disorders to understand. Characterized by a lack of empathy, marked impulsivity and a propensity for manipulation, it has long questioned researchers. Is it a pure product of the environment or a biological peculiarity?
While exposure to violence during childhood is a known factor, science is now turning to imaging to observe the brain. A study published in the journal Aggression and Violent Behavior now provides concrete structural evidence of this disorder.
A thinner cortex in these profiles
To understand the origin of these behaviors, the team of neuropsychologist Ángel Romero-Martínez examined the brains of 125 men, including 67 convicted of domestic violence.
Thanks to MRI and high-precision measurement software, the results are clear: individuals with the highest psychopathic traits have a thinner cortex in the frontal, temporal and parietal regions.
The cerebral cortex, this layer of gray matter which envelops our hemispheres, is the seat of higher cognitive functions.
Thinning in these specific areas appears to be directly correlated with increased difficulty in respecting social norms and controlling impulses, regardless of the individual’s criminal past.
Brain asymmetry: between impulsivity and lack of empathy
The study goes further by suggesting that each affected area of the brain plays a specific role in the disease:
- In the left hemisphere, abnormalities could explain decision-making difficulties and chronic impulsivity;
- Within the right hemisphere, structural differences would be linked to the management of emotions and the inability to feel empathy;
- And at the heart of the insula, when this hidden area of the cortex is reduced, it would affect the ability to understand the point of view of others, thus facilitating emotional coldness.
“The lie allows him to control the other”
Beyond the biological aspect, psychopathy manifests itself through very specific social behaviors. For Siyana Mincheva, psychologist, lying is a central weapon.
“It is linked to manipulation: the psychopath wants to control the person he has in front of him and lying allows him to do so.”
Contrary to popular belief, the psychopath does not suffer from his lack of morality. “On the contrary, for him, making the person in front of him suffer is seen as a distraction” analyzed the expert in a previous True Medical article.
This disorder prevents any authentic relationship since “the psychopath cannot build a healthy lifestyle and relationships. Everything is always based on control, everything is thought out and self-interested.”
Towards more reliable diagnoses in the judicial environment?
One of the great challenges for experts is the ability of psychopaths to fake emotions or seduce their audience. As Siyana Mincheva points out, “their charisma allows them to attract their victim“.
They are also experts at clearing themselves of their actions. “The psychopath is responsible for the harm he causes but he acquits himself of it, he does not accept responsibility for his actions.
This is where brain imaging comes in as a tool of truth. Since brain scans cannot be falsified unlike interview responses, the researchers believe that ““this could help forensic experts and psychologists establish accurate profiles by combining psychological tests and neuroimaging examinations.”