Psychopath or Normal?

A psychopath is someone who displays antisocial behavior, and the inability to make meaningful relationships with diminished empathy and remorse. In today’s society a criminal is usually defined as a psychopath, which in some cases is true. One in five offenders is a psychopath, however, that does not mean all offenders are psychopaths and all psychopaths are offenders. In James Fallon’s book, The Psychopath Inside, Fallon explains how a normal guy, like himself, can have the brain of a psychopath. Fallon discovered that his brain scans similarly match the brain scans of a psychopath, he then also discovered he comes from a long line of murderers. In biological terms, Fallon had similar brain scans as a psychopath, but does that actually mean he is a psychopath? Fallon, a successful neuroscientist and medical professor showed no personality traits associated with being a psychopath even though he showed similar brain scans.

                In a recent article, “Psychopathic Violent Offenders’ Brains Can’t Understand Punishment” published on Science daily, The University of Montreal researched how psychopaths learn from punishment in order to engage in psychopathic behaviors, and therefore when they are given a punishment it has no effect on them. From a young age, psychopaths usually are repeatedly punished, from parents or other influences in their life, therefore they learn to engage in punishing others themselves. The University found that offenders that were psychopaths had less gray matter in the regions that are involved with empathy and pro-social emotions. However, offenders that were not psychopaths also engaged in criminal activities. One does not have to be a psychopath to engage in criminal behaviors, like wise one can be a psychopath and not engage in criminal activities.   

                The moral of the story is that, Fallon clearly proved that just because one shows similar brain scans as a psychopath does not mean you are actually one. In order to be a psychopath you must have a predisposition as well as environmental influences.

Fallon, J. (2013). The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist's Personal Journey Into the Dark Side of the Brain. Penguin.  

University of Montreal. "Psychopathic violent offenders’ brains can’t understand punishment." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 January 2015. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150127212158.htm.