It has been fascinating to the field of psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience in general to study psychopathy, as this population of individuals are severely flawed in the areas of attachment (bonding), moral reasoning, fear responsivity, and empathy.
Studies support hypersensitivity to dopamine and dysfunctional dopamine reward circuitry. Those with this condition have significant emotional deficiencies and limitations that represent the core of their pathology.
Psychopathic individuals clearly understand the difference between right and wrong, however frequently ’choose’ wrong. The systems that allows one to regulate behavior and feel remorse, guilt, empathy, or compassion is not available/ properly functioning for these individuals. They are callous and lack remorse for the offensive behaviors manifested by their disordered character.
Psychopaths are highly pleasure driven and quite often operating within the reward system of the brain when interacting with those that can be identified as their target. Similar to the manner one would respond with an addiction.
Given such interactions they chase their desired pleasure (e.g., new mate/ affair, inappropriate business practices, sexual deviances – pedophilia, prostitutes, etc) without concern or regard for the impact their behavior may have upon others.
It does not concern them that sexual contact with a child will severely damage that child (and not an urge of normal adults). It does not concern them that sex with an escort could put their spouse or girlfriend at risk for diseases and cause heartbreak if the betrayal is discovered. Promiscuity is quite common. These individuals do not bond with their significant others; hence such relationships are not valued or appreciated.
They are not concerned that many will suffer financially due to their selfish decisions to advance themselves by unscrupulous business practices. If you are hurt by them, they consider it your fault for trusting in them in the first place.
However, there will never be guilt; they do not have the capacity for such an emotional state. Many may ask, “how do they sleep at night knowing the awful things they have done!” The answer is simple – they sleep just fine, as there is no conscience … there is no guilt.
Psychopaths also lack concern for the risk they are taking and the immorality of the act. Because their behavior and interactions are often addictive and minimally responsive to fear, these individuals do not learn from prior mistakes or make changes. Their interactions with others tend not to be positive or beneficial to the non-psychopathic individual. Many will describe feeling victimized, used, or hurt.
They have significant difficulty regulating their pleasure seeking behavior. Control is minimal. Therefore, if they want it, regardless of the target (new partner, material object, money, success, inappropriate contact with a child) they pursue it without regard for consequences.
Many may wonder why an individual would lead a “double life” and place everything at risk repeatedly for pleasure driven impulsive/ inappropriate acts. However, when one is aware of a psychopath’s neurobiological profile, the reasons become apparent and clear.
Psychopaths can be a dangerous population of individuals:
The range of acts are all painful and traumatizing to the victim; they can range from one who is emotionally abusive, to the individual who rapes and murders a small child.
There is no conscience available to put the brakes on the behavior. Instead they respond to their urges impulsively and move forward to derive gratification, while causing considerable harm to the victim. Their range of behaviors is wide, however all have a similar foundation neurobiologically.
To further expand your knowledge of this population and gain a better understanding of their character and behavior, consider the book authored by one of the leaders in the area of psychopathy, Dr. Robert Hare.
The book Without Conscience may clear up some of the confusion we often feel when we hear of heinous acts such as child rape, murder, pedophilia, where the perpetrator returns to his previous activities as though ‘nothing’ happened.
How can he/she do that? We may wonder where is the guilt or shame? How could he go forward with such an act? Without Conscience may be a good place to start to clear up this dichotomy.