Psychopathy : a very short introduction / Essi Viding.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Viding, Essi, author.

Series:

Very short introductions ; 618.

Very short introductions ; 618

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Antisocial personality disorders.

Criminal psychology.

Psychopaths.

Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Criminal Psychology.

Medical Subjects:

Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Criminal Psychology.

Physical Description:

xxiv, 111 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2019.

Summary:

Psychopathy is a personality disorder that has long captured the public imagination. Newspaper column inches have been devoted to murderers with psychopathic features, and we also encounter psychopaths in films and books. Individuals with psychopathy are characterised in particular by lack of empathy and guilt, manipulation of other people and, in the case of criminal psychopathy, premeditated violent behaviour. They are dangerous and can incur immeasurable emotional, psychological, physical, and financial costs to their victims and their families. Despite the public fascination with psychopathy, there is often a very limited understanding of the condition, and several myths about psychopathy abound. For example, people commonly assume that all psychopaths are sadistic serial killers or that all violent and antisocial individuals are psychopaths. Yet, research shows that most psychopaths are not serial killers, and, equally, there are plenty of antisocial and violent offenders who are not psychopaths. This Very Short Introduction gives an overview of how we can identify individuals with or at risk of developing psychopathy, and how they differ from other people who display antisocial behavior. Essi Viding also explores the latest genetic, neuroscience, and psychology evidence in order to illuminate why psychopaths behave and develop the way they do, and considers whether it is possible to prevent or even treat psychopathy.

Contents:

How can we know if someone is a psychopath or is at risk of becoming one?

Explaining the lack of empathy

Explaining impulsivity and failure to behave prosocially

Why do some people become psychopaths?

What to do with a psychopath?

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 103-108) and index.

ISBN:

9780198802266

0198802269

OCLC:

1112379839