Valencia College how People Make Moral Judgement Read the section in Chapter 7 on psychopathy (refer to pages 182-184). Next, click on the following link a

Valencia College how People Make Moral Judgement Read the section in Chapter 7 on psychopathy (refer to pages 182-184). Next, click on the following link and read the article: Antisocial personality and untilitarianism-1.pdf. This is a short article (8 pages) that discusses theories about how people make moral judgments. Interestingly, those who scored higher for psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and life meaninglessness scored higher on utilitarian solutions to moral dilemmas (i.e., actions that serve the greater good) than those who chose non-utilitarian solutions (i.e., placed greater primacy on individual worth). This finding is interesting because researchers have argued that utilitarianism is a more appropriate framework to evaluate moral judgment. Based on what you learned, how can a person with psychopathic personality attributes make morally worthwhile decisions; whereby a psychologically healthy person acting in good conscience make a morally wrong decision when faced with a similar moral dilemma? Please give an example. Remember the earlier discussion about the role of the autonomic nervous system in shaping the development of our consciousness. One of the defining characteristics of the psychopath is his/her inability to experience social emotions (e.g., shame, embarrassment, empathy, guilt). Such emotions restrain our activity by preventing us from engaging in behavior that will cost us our reputation or relationships with others. In psychopaths, studies have shown that brain’s cognitive and emotional networks do not tie together as well as “normal” people. For this reasons, psychopaths do not process social emotions is “social approved” ways. It is assumed that psychopathy is an adaptive strategy sharpened by evolution. What advantages would it have given our ancestors and does those behavioral strategies class with today’s “socially approved” ways? Please explain your answer. This answer should be at least 300 words in length. A paragraph should be a minimum of three complete sentences. 184
Introduction to Criminology
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Another explanation of psychopathy is inhibitory defect of
underendowment. Some psychopathic individuals seem to act
gers, or considering the consequences. This perspective maintains
impulsively without assessing the situation, appreciating the dan.
that lesions in certain areas of the brain can cause a decrease in
inhibitory control in animals as well as humans. This view does
in their frontal cortex areas; rather, frontal lesions can produce a
not argue that all psychopaths have lesions or
qualitative detects
syndrome similar to psychopathy. 102
PCL-R
The interpersonal and affective factors associated with psychopa-
thy often are related to a socially deviant lifestyle, including irre-
sponsible and impulsive behavior; these behaviors tend to ignore
or violate social rules and mores. While not all psychopaths have
any type of formal contact with the criminal justice system, the
interpersonal, affective, and behavioral features of psychopathy
place them at a high risk for aggression and violence.103 With the
empirical evidence on the association between psychopathy and
criminal behavior. 104 Research has revealed that while psychopa
als make up a significant proportion of the prison population 105
Hare stressed that while psychopathy is closely associated with
antisocial and criminal behavior, it should not be confused with
thy occurs in about 1% of the general population, these individu
tively different from other individuals involved in criminal behay.
Referring to Lykken’s low
fear-quotient theory, do
you think this woman is
more at the low- or high-
end of the fear-quotient
continuum?
criminality in general. 106 He noted that psychopaths are qualita-
ior. Specifically
, he noted that psychopaths have a distinct criminal career in terms of the
number and type of antisocial behaviors as well as the ages when they engage in these
behaviors. Also, the motivation to engage in these antisocial behaviors differs between
psychopaths and nonpsychopaths.
In terms of treatment of psychopaths, most clinicians and researchers are less than
optimistic about successful outcomes. A major reason is that unlike most other types of
offenders, psychopaths do not experience personal distress and do not appreciate the
problems associated with their attitudes and behavior. Further, when they do seek treat
ment, it is usually in an effort to benefit their situation, such as seeking probation and
parole, rather than to improve themselves. Thus,” it is not surprising that they derive little
benefit from traditional treatment programs, particularly those aimed at the development
of empathy, conscience, and interpersonal skills.” 10%
MENTAL HEALTH AND THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
The proportion of male and female jail detainees with a mental health disorder is signifi
cantly higher than the proportion of people with a mental health disorder in the general
population. Some have referred to the “in and out of prison and/or jail among offend
ers with mental health disorders as the revolving door.” According to the Treatment
Advocacy Center
Prisons and jails have become America’s “new asyluants”: The number of indi-
viduals with serious mental illness in prisons and jails now exceeds the number
in state psychiatric hospitals tenfold. Most of the mentally ill individuals in
prisons and jails would have been treated in the state psychiatric hospitals in the
Chapter 7: Psychological/Trait Theories of Crime
183
psychopath:
other studies in the adult literature have focused on possible subtypes or subgroups of
psychopathy. One subgroup is consistent with Cleckley’s original concept of the primary
(An individual) who displays certain characteristics that are maladaptive and
pathological (e.g., lack of conscience, irresponsibility, failure to learn from
experience)-as well as key traits that appear ostensibly adaptive, or at least
nonpathological (e.g., low anxiety, interpersonal charm, absence of irrational
thinking).98
Another subgroup also has many of the same maladaptive traits as the primary psy-
chopath. However, this subtype, or secondary psychopath, seems to be more prone to
exhibit extensive symptoms of psychological turmoil and emotional reactivity. Also, these
individuals tend to be more reactive, antagonistic, and impulsive; they are also more at
ideation/gestures, and interpersonal aggression.”
risk for engaging in self- and other destructive behavior such as drug use/abuse, suicidal
Various theories have attempted to explain psychopathy. Lykken suggested the low fear-
quotient theory. He maintained that all individuals have an innate propensity to fear
certain stimuli, such as loss of support, snakes, or strangers. Individuals subsequently
associate, or condition, fear of stimuli and situations that they have previously experi-
enced with pain or punishment. This is referred to as an innate fear quotient; this fear
quotient varies from person to person. Primary psychopaths are at the low end of this
fear-quotient continuum. Further
, most of the normal socialization process relies on pun-
ishing antisocial behavior. However, “someone who is relatively fearless will be relatively
harder to socialize in this way”100 (see Box 7.1).
BOX 7.1
Lykken provided the following example of a child
who demonstrated fearlessness. The letter was
written by the mother of a teenage daughter in
response to an article Lykken wrote for a popular
magazine:
Your article on fearlessness was very infor-
mative. I was able to identify with many of
the traits. However, being thirty-six and
a single parent of three children, I have
managed to backpack on the edge” with
out breaking my neck. I have a 14-year-
old daughter who seems to be almost
fearless to anything in her environment.
She jumps out second-story windows.
When she was in first grade, I came home
from work one afternoon and found her
hanging by her fingers from our upstairs
window. I “calmly” asked her what she
was doing. She replied that she was “get-
ting refreshed.” Later, she stated that she
did things like that when she needed a
lift-that she was bored and it made her
feel better. Nancy is bright, witty, attrac-
tive, charismatic, and meets people eas-
ily. She tends to choose friends who are
offbeat, antisocial, and into dope, alcohol,
etc. During her month’s visit here with me,
she stole money from my purse, my bank
card, etc., etc. 101
THINK ABOUT IT:
How would you explain the link between this girl’s
“fearlessness” and her criminal behavior?
182
Introduction to Criminology
Or
The third factor, biological makeup, is considered the most controversial aspect of Wilson
predestination. Rather, they argued that the question of whether criminals are “born
and Herrnstein’s theoretical perspective. They stressed that this theory was not one of
made” is poorly phrased. The word born implies that some part of criminality may be
word made implies that some aspect of criminality may be due, categorically and perma-
due, categorically and permanently, to assigned constitutional factors (e.g., genetics); the
nently, to social factors. They maintained that such a viewpoint “neglects, obviously, the
complex interactions that exist between those causes.”87
tors, such as intelligence and impulsivity, can influence an individual’s ability to
to judge
Wilson and Herrnstein contend that at any time, a person can choose between commit-
ting a crime and not committing a crime. The consequences of committing a crime consist
of rewards and punishments. The greater the ratio of net rewards of crime to net rewards
of noncrime, the greater the tendency to commit the crime.88 Further, constitutional fac-
future and immediate rewards and punishments. Thus, “aggressive and impulsive males
with low intelligence are at a greater risk for committing crimes than are young males
who have developed ‘the bite of conscience,’ which reflects higher cognitive and intellec-
tual development.”89 In reference to intelligence, Wilson and Herrnstein argued that social
a
difficulty
scientists have maintained that individuals identified as offenders have an average IQ of
92, which is about 8 points below the population average. Further
, they contend that
low IQ may result in offenders’ inability to think past “short-term” situations or
understanding society’s rules and the consequences of their actions.90
There have been various criticisms of Wilson and Herrnstein’s theoretical perspective.
One is that they failed to empirically test their terms, such as ratio of rewards. Specifically,
they did not adequately operationalize these terms; this makes it difficult for researchers
to test their theory. Another concern was the focus on street and predatory crimes, such
as murder, robbery, and burglary. They did not include other offenses such as white-
collar crimes. As Gibbs asked, “Are some white collar crimes predatory:”92 Some argued
they may have actually selectively reviewed literature that supported their theory. Thus
,
“although readers were given the impression that the authors’ arguments were
solid science and, therefore, should be believed, critics asserted that, in more than one
instance, these arguments were based on shaky evidence.”93
that while Wilson and Herrnstein objectively selected and presented relevant literature,
based on
sociopath: refers
specifically to antisocial
personalities that are
due to social or familial
dysfunction.
Psychopathy and Crime
David Lykken distinguished between the terms sociopath and psychopath. Sociopath
refers specifically to antisocial personalities attributed to social or familial dysfunction.
Psychopath refers to individuals whose antisocial behavior may be a result of a defect or
abnormality within themselves, rather than in their rearing or socialization. In his clas-
sic book Mask of Sanity, Hervey Cleckley maintained that psychopaths are intelligent,
self-centered, glib, superficially charming, verbally shallow, and manipulative. In terms
of emotions, these individuals lack essential human characteristics such as empathy and
remorse. Behaviorally, psychopaths engage in irresponsible behavior, are prone to seek
novelty and excitation, and often engage in moral transgressions or antisocial acts.
While there were various attempts to develop an assessment tool measuring psychopathy,
it was not until the mid-1980s that major advances were made. Robert Hare developed
the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) to examine psychopathy in adult samples.
His scale adapted some of Cleckley’s concepts of psychopathic individuals as well as
including such factors as impulsivity and criminological components (e.g., criminal ver-
satility).The Hare PCL-R includes scales measuring two factors: (1) the callous, selfish,
remorseless use of others, and (2) a chronically unstable and antisocial lifestyle.%
psychopath: refers
to individuals whose
antisocial behavior may
result from a defect
or abnormality within
themselves rather
than in their rearing or
socialization.

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