Psykopatia

Psychopathy is a personality construct used in psychology and forensic science to describe a pattern of affective, interpersonal, and behavioral traits. The core features typically include superficial charm, grandiosity, manipulation, a lack of empathy and remorse, and a parasitic or impulsive lifestyle.

It is not a formal DSM-5 diagnosis. Clinicians sometimes assess psychopathy with the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), which yields a score reflecting the degree of psychopathic traits. Psychopathy overlaps with antisocial personality disorder but is not identical; antisocial personality disorder centers on persistent rule-breaking and rights-violation, whereas psychopathy emphasizes affective deficits such as lack of empathy and shallow emotions.

Etiology involves genetic predispositions and environmental influences, including early adversity. Neurobiological findings point to differences in emotion processing and decision-making, such as reduced amygdala responsiveness to fear and impairment in prefrontal circuits linked to impulse control.

The course is typically persistent; traits show stability over time, and psychopathy is associated with higher risk of antisocial behavior and recidivism, particularly in high-risk contexts. However, outcomes vary and some individuals may develop more adaptive functioning in certain settings.

Treatment evidence is mixed, and there is no widely accepted cure. Interventions emphasize risk management and behavioral strategies to reduce harm, often focusing on criminogenic needs; pharmacological options are limited and usually target comorbid conditions.