Today's soundtrack is Chvrches: Every Open Eye. I'm reading chapter two of Murderous Minds today, which defines psychopathy. The chapter begins by talking about the Inuit concept of kunlangeta, a "person whose mind knows what to do but he does not do it" (26). The Inuit kunlangeta parallels our concept of a psychopath. The Yoruba people in West Africa have a similar term: an arankan is a "person who always goes his own way regardless of others, who is uncooperative, full of malice, and bullheaded" (28). Haycock says that the terms we use for this disorder - "sociopathy, psychopathy, anti-social personal disorder, and dyssocial personality disorder" have been confused and used in place of each other. Part of the problem is that we do not have clearly defined behaviours that differentiate between these disorders. The PCL-R is the evaluation used today to determine psychopathy. It uses a three-point scale to rate twenty "anti-social behaviours and emotional and interpersonal traits." It also takes into account a person's criminal record and past history. Diagnosis requires character interviews with friends, family, and acquaintances. Even their hobbies and pursuits during free time are considered. Dr. Robert Hare, who developed the PCL-R, has acknowledged a concern that unqualified people may be administering the test, cutting corners, and ultimately leading to people being denied parole due to misdiagnosis of psychopathy - while undermining the value of the PCL-R. Interestingly, a score on the PCL-R of 30/40 will result in a diagnosis of psychopathy in America; only 25/40 is required for the same diagnosis in Europe. There are six categories of a person's behaviours that are assessed in the PCL-R: - Interpersonal - Affective - Lifestyle - Antisocial - Failure to Accept Personal Responsibility - Many Marital Relationships Some terms used in the past to describe psychopathy are "insanity without delirium," "moral insanity" and "moral derangement." "Psychopathy" was first coined in 1845. Sociopathy and psychopathy are terms often used interchangeably. Haycock says that they are seen as being practically the same. The DSM-V counts both under the umbrella of "anti-social personality disorder."
