Taming the demon
Have you ever experienced interacting with a person who seems to literally care less about your thoughts, feelings, wants, needs and desires? A person who, in your darkest, most vulnerable times can look you in your eyes with a cold, blank stare, and leave you struggling to cope with life’s stressors alone?
Psychopathy is a complex term that is used mostly by researchers to describe antisocial behavior that is impulsive, aggressive, deceitful and encompasses a desire to break all the rules. According to Dr Igor I.Galyner, Ph.D, “this disorder is characterized by callousness and unemotional behavior which are the hallmark of the illness". These individuals show such little regard for another human being, particularly if there is no gain for themselves.
"They have a feeling of grandiosity which makes them behave as if the rules do not apply. There is a certain glibness and they feel entitled. They cannot be punished -- like Teflon."
Typically, when diagnoses as children, Conduct Disorder is often given and at the age of 18 Antisocial Personality Disorder is used. "These people really see you as a piece of furniture and the empathy that allows us to feel others' feelings is missing," Dr. Galyner says.
In childhood, individuals can be callous and cruel and torture their peers on a regular and routine basis which makes this diagnosis very difficult to identify. According to Dr. Galyner, "we must be careful because kids can act out for all kinds of reasons. You (must) look at the history of an adult psychopath.” The question then to ask is whether or not these children were engaging in these behaviors on the playground.
According to Dr. Galyner and referring to psychopathic behaviors, he says "we all do bad things, but with a true psychopath there is a predation about them. "They prey on other people. That is part of their MO. Kids do bully, but is there a pattern of preying on kids?"
“Normal Kids Are Social; Psychopaths Are Predators”
Average children from approximately the ages 6 to 13, are busy with social activities such as sports or playing an instrument. During this time, social skills and value systems are being developed and socially acceptable behaviors are being molded.
However, in thinking about differences between ‘normal’ versus ‘abnormal’ behaviors, Darwin Dorr, a professor and director of clinical training at Witichita State University in Kansas, "these pre-psychopaths are not doing that," said Dorr. "They are prowling and trolling, looking for something to get into. They are not normal, busy kids. ... They are finding short cuts to success."
The reason for these behaviors is unknown and what’s more unsettling is the vast spectrum these individuals work on. Not all psychopaths are going to kill and, strangely, most are not dangerous physically. According to one study conducted which looked at patterns in school aged assassins, it was found that one commonality among all troubled kids was revenge as a motive.
"Psychopaths don't feel guilty because they are blind to guilt," said Frank Ochberg, a former FBI psychiatrist who led the counseling team after Columbine, which supports the controlling, manipulative and sadistic qualities these individuals often times possess.
Among other characteristics, these individuals are well-liked and charming-‘salesman’ like. These are the people thought of as "wheeler-dealers and manipulators.”
"They see themselves as victims, not telling the truth, avoiding, changing the truth around," according to psychologist Dorr. "They have a deficiency of anxiety. We would be nervous if we messed up. They are so cool, they can do dangerous things. And when they are caught, they are very smooth and don't feel guilty, and talk themselves out of it."
The diagnosis of this disorder is extremely tricky as other disorders mimic characteristics of psychopathy. Bipolar disorder, for example, is one.
"When they are on the manic side, they can be callous," he said. "They have a Teflon factor and can be grandiose and break the rules and think they get away with it. But this would be treatable. A psychopath is permanent."
Meghan is a licensed therapist and has extensive experience studying psychopathy among other mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. For more information regarding this topic or other childhood/adolescent/adult disorders, or to set up an appointment please contact Meghan Garland, MA, LPC at 708 586 9583.