The popular image of a psychopath often conjures thoughts of dangerous individuals. These are people whose relentless self-interest can lead to significant harm to others, while simultaneously propelling them towards considerable personal success. It’s no surprise, then, that while psychopathy affects approximately 1% of the general population, it appears in about one in five men within prison populations. Research has also noted a correlation between traits associated with psychopathy and professional leadership roles.
However, just as interacting with someone exhibiting psychopathic traits can be unsettling, the experience of having these traits is not necessarily desirable. Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University in Washington DC, dedicates her work to studying individuals who possess psychopathic traits but largely navigate everyday life within the broader community. Her research has revealed a surprising observation: a significant number of these individuals do not wish to have psychopathy.
Defining and Identifying Psychopathic Traits
While researchers continue to refine its precise definition, psychopathy is generally characterized by a callous disregard for others, an absence of empathy, superficial charm, and impulsivity. Standardized checklists used for screening individuals assess a range of behaviors, including habitual lying, a sense of exaggerated self-importance, manipulative tendencies, and a perpetual need for external stimulation.
Studies have indicated that individuals with psychopathy tend to be intensely focused on their objectives, often failing to automatically perceive situations from others’ viewpoints in the way most people do. Furthermore, scientists, including Professor Marsh, have observed that the brains of individuals with psychopathy exhibit structural and functional differences.
Research into the Roots of Psychopathy
Professor Marsh investigates the origins of psychopathy by selecting participants from the general population who display very high scores on psychopathy assessments, rather than exclusively from correctional facilities. In a study published the previous year, her team achieved a quantitative measure, for the first time, of how individuals with psychopathy value the well-being of others. Speaking with New Scientist, Marsh shared insights into these unexpected findings and the complexities of compassion towards those with psychopathic traits.
The Lived Experience of Psychopathy
When asked about the typical life experience of individuals with psychopathy, Professor Marsh noted that they commonly report experiencing emotions like fear, guilt, remorse, and profound love with less intensity. Some individuals believe that this reduced emotional range simplifies their lives. Conversely, other aspects of their lives can be more challenging. Many people with psychopathy spend considerable time “masking” their true selves. This can be a strategy for manipulating others, or simply a way to facilitate smoother social interactions.
Stigma significantly impacts their lives. Psychopathy is often perceived as a fixed moral failing rather than a psychological disorder. However, it shares common roots with other psychological disorders, stemming from a combination of genetic predispositions and life experiences that shape brain development and subsequent behavior. These are not inexplicable phenomena driven by supernatural forces, but rather biological processes that are potentially amenable to treatment.
Neurological Correlates of Psychopathy
It is important to note that psychopathy, like any psychological disorder, cannot be definitively diagnosed through a brain scan alone. However, comparative studies analyzing groups of individuals with and without psychopathy reveal average differences. Consistent variations are observed in a brain region known as the amygdala. In both children and adults diagnosed with psychopathy, the amygdala tends to be smaller than average.
Research from Professor Marsh’s laboratory suggests that children with smaller amygdalas are more prone to exhibiting escalating traits and behaviors associated with psychopathy over time. The amygdala also demonstrates reduced activity in response to stimuli indicating fear or danger in others, which may help explain the increased likelihood of individuals with psychopathy engaging in threatening or harmful actions. Additional studies have identified anatomical or functional differences in other brain areas among individuals with psychopathy, including the striatum, which is instrumental in coordinating responses to anticipated rewards, and specific regions of the frontal cortex, which integrate emotional information to guide decision-making and behavioral regulation.
Treatment and Avenues for Change
One study indicated that three years of therapeutic intervention could help individuals with psychopathy to better manage their emotions. However, public health resources dedicated to treating personality disorders, particularly those characterized by antisocial behavior, are notably scarce. Many people show little concern for the welfare of individuals with psychopathy, as they typically do not elicit sympathy. Nevertheless, a moral imperative exists to provide care, equivalent to that offered for any other disorder that an individual has not chosen. The struggle to find accessible treatment for these individuals is a significant concern.
Despite these challenges, some individuals have independently discovered methods to improve their behavioral patterns. Professor Marsh’s team encountered several individuals who effectively “hacked” their way to sustained behavioral change. In some instances, this was motivated by the desire to preserve a valued relationship. One particularly memorable participant shared that he achieved this by consistently “faking it until he made it,” consciously adopting the behaviors he believed a kind person would exhibit. After approximately eighteen months, these simulated behaviors began to feel natural and even enjoyable. This finding aligns with clinical psychological recommendations: practicing desired behaviors until they become habitual.
Furthermore, several individuals described in the study had independently constructed personal moral codes. These codes were not necessarily born from remorse or shame but rather from a conscious aspiration to become a particular type of person. One compelling example involved an individual who experienced strong aggressive impulses but resolved to channel these urges solely in support of social justice causes. This individual would actively seek out situations where offensive remarks were made or even provoke them, such as experiencing a sexist comment. However, for the most part, he effectively regulated his behavior through self-imposed rules.
The Desire for Change and Insight
Quantifying the prevalence of a desire for change among individuals with psychopathy is challenging. In interview settings, many express dissatisfaction with their current life circumstances and acknowledge engaging in persistent maladaptive behaviors. They express a strong desire to change but face significant barriers in accessing appropriate treatment. It is important to note that many of these individuals contacted the research team after completing a screening test available on the website of an organization co-founded by Professor Marsh, suggesting a degree of self-awareness.
Formal data regarding the proportion of individuals with psychopathy who recognize that something is different about them is still being gathered. Research on other neurological and personality disorders indicates that a lack of such insight, a phenomenon termed anosognosia, is common.
Person-Centered Language in Psychology
Professor Marsh consciously uses the term “people with psychopathy” rather than “psychopaths.” She explains that this shift reflects a broader movement within clinical psychology towards a person-centered approach, where individuals are not defined by their disorders. This mirrors the established practice of referring to “a person with depression” or “a person with schizophrenia,” rather than using terms like “depressives” or “schizophrenics.” However, this person-centered logic is not consistently applied to personality disorders, and referring to individuals as “psychopaths” or “narcissists” unfortunately remains prevalent.
Personal Motivations for Studying Psychopathy
Professor Marsh’s interest in psychopathy was initially sparked by her broader curiosity about the factors that motivate individuals to care about the well-being of others. A portion of her research also examines highly altruistic individuals. Her interest was ignited by a personal experience involving an act of rescue following a car accident. While driving late one night to her hometown of Tacoma, Washington – coincidentally, the same hometown as Ted Bundy and other notable serial offenders – her car swerved to avoid a dog on an overpass. The vehicle spun and came to a halt in a fast lane with a dead engine.
She felt it was highly likely she would have been struck and killed by another vehicle. However, a stranger appeared unexpectedly. She later learned he had pulled over on the opposite side of the freeway, crossed lanes of traffic, and come to her aid. He entered her car, managed to restart the engine, and drove her to safety. This profound experience significantly shifted her perspective on human beings.
From Altruism to the Darker Side of Human Nature
This remarkable experience of encountering human goodness led Professor Marsh to explore the positive aspects of human behavior. Approximately four years later, during a New Year’s trip to Las Vegas with friends, she experienced a contrasting incident. A stranger groped her. When she slapped him, he retaliated by punching her in the face, breaking her nose. This deeply disturbing event altered her appreciation for the full spectrum of human capabilities.
Recruitment for Psychopathy Research
Beyond online screening tests, Professor Marsh’s team employs other methods to recruit participants for their studies. Her most recent research involved over 700 individuals, 288 of whom exhibited very high psychopathy scores. These participants were recruited after completing a screening test through the Society for the Prevention of Disorders of Aggression. This organization provides resources for individuals affected by aggression disorders and their families. Those scoring exceptionally high receive an invitation to participate in research projects.
For studies requiring participants to visit the lab for brain imaging, flyers are used with phrasing such as “Are you adventurous?”. This approach to recruitment, initially utilized in newspaper advertisements during the 1970s to attract individuals with psychopathy, has proven effective.
Valuing Others’ Welfare: New Research Findings
Professor Marsh’s recent study specifically investigated how individuals with psychopathic traits perceive and value the welfare of others. This focus stemmed from the understanding that antisocial behavior often involves deriving personal gain at another’s expense. Such behaviors encompass theft, assault, and even risky driving. Risky driving was the most frequently reported form of antisocial behavior among participants with high psychopathy scores, often attributed to enjoyment, haste, and a disregard for potential risks and costs to others.
However, the specific extent to which individuals with psychopathy value the outcomes for others in comparison to their own immediate needs had not been explicitly quantified prior to this research. The study aimed to fill this gap by measuring this differential valuation.
Unexpected Results from Social Discounting Tasks
The results of the study were more extreme than initially anticipated. A “social discounting task” is employed to assess how much value individuals place on rewards depending on who receives them. For the majority of people, a reward does not experience a significant devaluation if a close acquaintance receives it; a $50 reward is almost as valued by the person if a loved one receives it as if they received it themselves.
In this particular task, participants were presented with choices between keeping a full reward amount for themselves and splitting a slightly larger total amount with another individual. Generally, research indicates that people place value on the welfare of those they are close to. However, when it comes to strangers, most individuals are unwilling to make significant sacrifices. The “social discounting curve,” which illustrates the diminishing value of others’ welfare, typically shows a steady decline. Professor Marsh expressed considerable astonishment at the precipitous drop observed in the curve for individuals with psychopathy. They valued the well-being of individuals within their close circle to the same extent that most people value complete strangers. Essentially, they demonstrated a profound lack of valuation for the welfare of virtually anyone outside their immediate personal sphere.
Societal Impact of Psychopathy
The prevalence of psychopathy means that most people likely know someone affected by it. Considering an average individual’s social network of 150 people and the statistic that approximately 1 in 100 individuals exhibits clinically significant psychopathy, the potential for interaction is substantial. However, individuals do not always recognize psychopathy. They might be aware of a neighbor, colleague, or family member whom they find untrustworthy, who frequently manipulates others, or whose behavior instills fear.
If someone within one’s social circle, particularly a close confidant, exhibits these traits, it is possible to have been deceived, threatened, or exploited. In cases involving a child, sibling, or partner, daily life might be characterized by fear. While this is not a universal experience, it is a relatively common one.
Recommendations for Addressing Psychopathy
It is crucial to understand that psychopathy is a genuine psychological disorder and is treatable. Individuals with psychopathy generally experience poorer health, diminished relationship quality, less favorable employment outcomes, lower earnings, and shorter lifespans compared to those without the disorder. These challenges are largely a consequence of the significant problems their behaviors create in their lives. However, these behavioral patterns are amenable to change through the guidance of a qualified therapist.
The website of the Society for Disorders of Aggression provides pertinent information and resources for individuals impacted by disorders of aggression. These resources include screening tools and details on effective therapeutic approaches and how to locate them.