...ABSTRACT This study examines previous research of antisocial personality disorder. Both biological and psychological research was examined. This paper will attempt to identify common environmental factors shared among people with antisocial personality disorder. PROBLEM STATEMENT Undoubtedly, the first question asked by many upon the gruesome discovery of a murder victim is, “Who could commit such a heinous crime?” Newspaper journalists, broadcast reporters, and the public alike, have asked the question, “What kind of person is capable of taking another person’s life?” A person with Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) is capable of just that and much more. Common careers of people diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder include, sales, management, and business professionals, as well as con artists. This is not an exhaustive list of careers for the antisocial person, as it is common practice for an antisocial person to be a career criminal, and in the most severe cases a serial killer. APD has been defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association as a person having, “a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others” (1994, p.645). The criteria outlined in the DSM-IV notes that APD behavior is indicated by at least 3 of the following characteristics: 1) failure to conform to social norms, 2) deceitfulness, 3) impulsivity, 4) irritability, 5) reckless disregard...
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...CA critical review of ‘An exploration of the serotonin system in antisocial boys with high levels of callous-unemotional traits’ by C. Moul, C. Dobson-Stone, J. Brennan, D. Howes and M. Dadds (2013) Introduction: Aggressiveness is a complicated study due to the fact that it does not act as an integral trait, and increased interest towards the matter of anti-social behaviour is partly explained by the apparent escalation of aggression in contemporary society (Popova, 2006). The human expression of anger is due to a combination of endocrine, neural and behavioural mechanisms and as such, a central question of human history. Children with aggressive behaviour form a heterogeneous population in relation to certain subtypes of aggressive antisocial behaviour. Callous-unemotional traits (e.g. absence of emotions and blame) are well-studied and temperamentally tied in with acute and persistent antisocial expression in children, which holds the risk for progressing psychopathy later in life (Frick & Viding, 2009) Serotonin levels are thought to contribute to childhood aggressive and antisocial behaviour, which can lead to expression later in adulthood (Raine, 2002). Thus, genetic factors are an inseparable part of the nature of antisocial behaviour, as demonstrated by twin research that has shown that heritability is likely to determine various forms of aggression and personality factors, such as impulsivity and callous-unemotional traits (Moffitt, 2005). Despite the fact...
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...Pennsylvania Law School Kent A. Kiehl University of New Mexico and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico Psychopathy research is plagued by an enigma: Psychopaths reliably act immorally, but they also accurately report whether an action is morally wrong. The current study revealed that cooperative suppressor effects and conflicting subsets of personality traits within the construct of psychopathy might help explain this conundrum. Among a sample of adult male offenders (N 100) who ranked deserved punishment of crimes, Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL–R) total scores were not linearly correlated with deserved punishment task performance. However, these null results masked significant opposing associations between task performance and factors of psychopathy: the PCL–R Interpersonal/Affective (i.e., manipulative and callous) factor was positively associated with task performance, while the PCL–R Social Deviance (i.e., impulsive and antisocial) factor was simultaneously negatively associated with task performance. These relationships were qualified by a significant interaction where the Interpersonal/ Affective traits were...
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...Psychophysiology, 51 (2014), 645–657. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2014 Society for Psychophysiological Research DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12209 Dissociable effects of psychopathic traits on cortical and subcortical visual pathways during facial emotion processing: An ERP study on the N170 PEDRO R. ALMEIDA,a,b FERNANDO FERREIRA-SANTOS,a JOANA B. VIEIRA,a,c PEDRO S. MOREIRA,a,b FERNANDO BARBOSA,a and JOÃO MARQUES-TEIXEIRAa a Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal b c Abstract This study examined the relation between psychopathic traits and the brain response to facial emotion by analyzing the N170 component of the ERP. Fifty-four healthy participants were assessed for psychopathic traits and exposed to images of emotional and neutral faces with varying spatial frequency content. The N170 was modulated by the emotional expressions, irrespective of psychopathic traits. Fearless dominance was associated with a reduced N170, driven by the low spatial frequency components of the stimuli, and dependent on the tectopulvinar visual pathway. Conversely, coldheartedness was related to overall enhanced N170, suggesting mediation by geniculostriate processing. Results suggest that different dimensions of psychopathy are related...
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...of Phoenix, 2015 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Psychology University of Phoenix March, 2015 Abstract Psychopathic and sociopathic general characteristic traits are found in both genders in various populations. More research on the general characteristic traits of females is needed. Research for the female populations will give professionals information about the differences displayed between genders. Different applied sciences will also further their knowledge in treatment options for either tendency. The study used explored if any differences existed between genders with intensified levels of psychopathic traits in regard to psychopathy factor scores. The sample consisted of 2,500 people of both genders (52.6% women) (M=22.15; SD=1.38) from the generalized population, aged 20-24. Results displayed women with psychopathic personality traits had significantly higher levels of behavioral tendencies than men of the same. The genders did display a difference in aggressive behavior. The men showed a significant amount of aggressive behaviors compared to the women. The gender differences displayed in the seven psychopathic features show the variations needed for treatment options. Differences and Similarities in Generalized Characteristic Traits among Genders: The Sociopath and Psychopath by Evelyn J. Dotson MS, University of Phoenix, 2015 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements...
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...Describing Gang Membership: An Examination of Youth Gangs Kiara C. Ross Georgia Gwinnett College Introduction Numerous studies have been conducted on the subject of youth in gangs and the many characteristics of a member or a nonmember. In this paper I will discuss what is considered a member of a youth gang, a nonmember and anything else in between. I have read three articles and I will compare and contrast each of their findings in detail. Article 1 The first article that I will be discussing was an in depth study done on youth in Canada. This article focused on “the frequency and stability of gang membership, family characteristics, concurrent behaviors, friendships, and school attitudes of stable and unstable gang members and non-gang members in childhood and early adolescence” (Craig, Vitaro, Gagnon, and Timblay, 2002 pg. 53). It also “examined the stability of belonging to a gang in early adolescence, the behavior profiles, family characteristics, and friendships of non-gang and gang members” (Craig et al. 2002 pg. 53). Craig et al. explained that there were three models that were used to understand the “relationship between gang membership and delinquency” which were the selection model, the social facilitation model, and the enhancement model. According to Craig et al.: A selection model is consistent with social control theory and the propensity theory of crime. According to this model, gangs recruit individuals who are already delinquent or have a propensity...
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...Crime Causation Study: Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency By Latoya Benn St. John’s University CRM 224 Dr. Zhou May 5, 2015 Abstract This paper will explore the Gluecks 1950 longitudinal study of 1000 delinquent and non-delinquent boys from a Life Course Criminology perspective. We will examined the issues of change and continuity over the life course. We will discuss the project’s creation and the main objective of the project. We will address the major elements of the project such as who participated in the project, year the project was conducted, the methodology used, how the data was collected, research questions the project could help answer, major findings, and strengths and weaknesses of the project. Background Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck investigated the results of various forms of correctional treatment over 15 years and found that juvenile courts and reformatories were ineffective. They believed that a better understanding of causation was essential for crime prevention and therapy, the present study (Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency) was planned to unravel the complex causes of delinquency. The main objective of the study was to uncover the causes of juvenile delinquency and adult criminality and in assessing the overall effectiveness of correctional treatment in preventing criminal careers. This project was a rather large project especially in the era that the study was done. The Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency study started in 1950 and subsequent...
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... Table of Contents Introduction 3 Stages of Psychosocial Development 3 The First Two Years 3 The Play Years 4 Psychosocial Developmental Challenges 6 Possible Causes: Maltreatment 6 Possible Causes: Family Structure 7 Possible Causes: Environmental Adversity 8 Influencers of Child Psychosocial Development 9 Teachers 9 Gender Roles 10 Child’s Play 11 Conclusion 11 References 13 Introduction Psychosocial development looks at the emotional and social development processes. There are many theories when it comes to how psychosocial development occurs, including the two most well-known theories by Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson. For the purpose of this paper I will be focusing on Erikson’s psychoanalytic theory of development for children through the play years, or age six. In addition to theories of development I will take a look into developmental challenges and the factors that affect development and the possible effects they may have. I will do this by taking a look at applicable case studies presenting their findings. The possible causes of developmental challenges that I will focus on are maltreatment, family structure and environmental adversity. I will also look into the influencers of psychosocial development on children and the impact they have on a child’s psychosocial development, including care givers, gender roles, and child’s play. Stages of Psychosocial Development ...
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...ARTICLE IN PRESS Behaviour Research and Therapy 46 (2008) 836– 844 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Behaviour Research and Therapy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/brat Prevalence and correlates of hoarding behavior in a community-based sample Jack F. Samuels a,Ã, O. Joseph Bienvenu a, Marco A. Grados a, Bernadette Cullen a, Mark A. Riddle a, Kung-yee Liang b, William W. Eaton c, Gerald Nestadt a a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Meyer 109, Baltimore, MD 21287-7228, USA Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA c Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA b a r t i c l e in fo Article history: Received 14 February 2008 Received in revised form 7 April 2008 Accepted 8 April 2008 Keywords: Hoarding Prevalence Risk factors Personality disorders Comorbidity abstract Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of hoarding behavior in the community. We estimated the prevalence and evaluated correlates of hoarding in 742 participants in the Hopkins Epidemiology of Personality Disorder Study. The prevalence of hoarding was nearly 4% (5.3%, weighted) and was greater in older than younger age groups, greater in men than women, and inversely related to household income. Hoarding was associated with alcohol dependence;...
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...interpersonal relationships, and social and occupational functioning, and can lead to problematic interactions in the medical setting (Ward, 2004). Personality disorders come in many forms of behaviors: from antisocial, narcissistic, avoidant and extreme and they are often regarded as conditions that are difficult to identify and treat effectiveness. As a result, there are many reasons for the incidence of persons with this behavior ceasing treatment programs prior to its completion. Dingfelder (2004) suggests that people with borderline personality disorders quit treatment programs about 70 percent of the time. This paper seeks to identify primary sources that provide research-based explanations of why struggles in effectiveness in the identification and treatment of personality disorders exist. It will also provide a proposal for a new research study that will help provide more information about increasing the effectiveness of treatment of such disorders. Effective Treatments from Research Personality disorders, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are categorized into three clusters based on their primary characteristics: cluster A, the odd or eccentric such as paranoid or schizoid; cluster B, dramatic, emotional, or erratic such as antisocial, narcissistic; and cluster C, the anxious or fearful such as avoidant and obsessive-compulsive (Ward, 2004). One important consideration of these different categorizations is the level of differentiation...
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...ADOLESCENT ALCOHOL USE AND DATING VIOLENCE PERPETRATION: THREE STUDIES EXAMINING CONCURRENT AND LONGITUDINAL RELATIONS ACROSS GRADES 8 THROUGH 12 Heathe Luz McNaughton Reyes A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education Chapel Hill 2009 Approved by Vangie A. Foshee, PhD Susan T. Ennett, PhD Daniel J. Bauer, PhD Carolyn T. Halpern, PhD J. Michael Bowling, PhD UMI Number: 3387971 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI 3387971 Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 © 2009 Heathe Luz McNaughton Reyes ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT Heathe Luz McNaughton Reyes—Adolescent alcohol use and dating violence perpetration: Three studies examining concurrent and longitudinal relations across grades 8 through 12 (Under the direction of Vangie A. Foshee, Susan T. Ennett,...
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...Psychology Papers: APA Style by Terry Student (your name here) Psychology Department (or your department) Mansfield University for PSY 4430, Theories of Personality (class here) Dr. Margaret Launius (professor here) December 19, 2001 (date turned in here) Abstract All research papers and many other written papers will begin with an abstract page that is numbered as page 2. The abstract is a brief summary of the paper or research project and should be about 100 to 120 words long. Like the rest of the paper, it should be double-spaced. Your professor will tell you if a course paper should include an abstract page. If you need to include an abstract in your paper, you would use the heading shown above. Do not use the title of your paper as the heading for the abstract page. Start the introduction of your paper on a new page. Guide to Formatting Psychology Papers: APA Style If you have used an abstract, the third page of the paper will start with the introduction section. If you have not used an abstract, then page two will be the beginning of your paper. You will use the title of your paper as the first-level heading (see above for example). APA Style Headings Headings and subheadings are used to help organize the paper into coherent sections that guide the reader from topic to topic. The heading style you use is dependent upon the number of headings you will be using in your paper. Most papers will have...
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...Unit 2, Ind. Project , American Intercontinental University Theories of Crime causation Criminal justice 105 Abstract This paper discusses the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. The author of this paper includes examples that she found through research studies. The author also includes the results and findings for twin, adoption and testosterone studies that were conducted by top professionals in the study of genetics and the biological environments that surround us. The author also has listed some of the dangers of suggesting that there is in fact a criminal gene in the field of Criminal justice that is in existence and what the repercussions would be if it was proven to be the truth. This paper is informative and professionally cited. Discuss the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. Criminality is definitely influenced by genetic factors as well as environment. For example studies were conducted among adopted children that have a biological parent that is a criminal these children have a higher risk of engaging in criminal activities, according to Richard J. Hernstein. He asserts that there have been many other studies that confirm certain physical traits, such as muscularity, gender and some have an extra Y chromosome, these children were also at a higher risk of committing crime. Therefore the late Hernstein argues, it’s refutable that criminal behavior has a genetic source. All...
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...Unit 2, Ind. Project , American Intercontinental University Theories of Crime causation Criminal justice 105 Abstract This paper discusses the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. The author of this paper includes examples that she found through research studies. The author also includes the results and findings for twin, adoption and testosterone studies that were conducted by top professionals in the study of genetics and the biological environments that surround us. The author also has listed some of the dangers of suggesting that there is in fact a criminal gene in the field of Criminal justice that is in existence and what the repercussions would be if it was proven to be the truth. This paper is informative and professionally cited. Discuss the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. Criminality is definitely influenced by genetic factors as well as environment. For example studies were conducted among adopted children that have a biological parent that is a criminal these children have a higher risk of engaging in criminal activities, according to Richard J. Hernstein. He asserts that there have been many other studies that confirm certain physical traits, such as muscularity, gender and some have an extra Y chromosome, these children were also at a higher risk of committing crime. Therefore the late Hernstein argues, it’s refutable that criminal behavior has a genetic source. All...
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...Anatomy of Violence Paper December 2013 The Anatomy of Violence is a non-fiction book, written by Adrian Raine, which investigates and presents facts to prove a neurocriminology hypothesis. Adrian Raine conducted experiments, researched and studied the biological roots of violence. He inaugurated neurocriminology, a newer field that incorporates neuroscience methods with the intention of examining the causes of violent criminal acts. Raine analyzes criminal minds. He pieces together research, data, and experiments of psychology, neurology, and criminology in order to inform the public of this new notion which sheds a new light on why people are or become violent criminals. This book was very interesting, well-explained, an easy read and the author incorporated many scientific examples to back up his theories. Adrian Raine takes us on a scientific expedition and exposes brain malfunction to be the cause of violent criminal acts. Raine’s theories are interesting and definitely bring forth many important questions however, while reading, I found some of his concepts are difficult to fully envision for logical reasons. A number of his concepts give an overreaching impression and are a bit too broad. While Raine brings up many valid points, I found myself asking important questions while reading Anatomy of Violence. Does this new research and belief give criminals a “Get out of jail free” card? While reading this book, I asked myself, Will this new theory allow...
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