John Wayne Gacy’s comment after 28 corpses were dug up from under his home: “I should never have been convicted of anything more serious than running a cemetery without a license.” He killed at least 33 victims and had this to say about them: “They were just a bunch of worthless little queers and punks.” He felt he deserved some sympathy: “I see myself more as a victim rather than a perpetrator… I was cheated out of my childhood.” John Wayne Gacy was a notorious serial killer, psychopath, scored over 30 on PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist Revised), more than a dozen books are written on his life. The term psychopath horrifies some, fascinates some, make some people nervous and others confused; whatever is your emotion following discussion will enrich your knowledge, no doubt.
We usually think psychopaths appear as cold-blooded serial killers, stalkers, sex offenders, con men and women, or the prototypical evil, manipulating villain, such as Dr. No or Hannibal Lecter; which is rarely true. It is estimated that about 1% of population falls somewhere on the psychopathy spectrum. Only few of them will commit crime, terrify us, rest will live normal or near normal life. If 1% estimate is correct then alone in USA we have 3 millions psychopaths now. According to FBI around 35 serial killers are active now in USA. Find out the conversion rate! It is near 1 in 100,000. Rest of the psychopaths will lie, manipulate, cheat, fraud, fight, and control you, will leave a permanent scar on your emotional, family, and social life. More ambitious, intelligent, responsible, controlled psychopaths will bring terror, war, and financial disaster.
Mental health professionals can measure psychopathy quantitatively and qualitatively. For quantitative measurement most popular tool is Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R), created and revised by Robert Hare. There are 20 traits. If clinician thinks you clearly have that given trait then he gives you 2 and 2 points are added to the total score. If partially or sometimes only 1 point is added to the total score. If a trait doesn’t apply to a person nothing is added. You can have a score of 0 (meaning no psychopathy) to 40 (a perfect match to prototypical psychopathy).
Note that scoring each item requires professional qualifications, adherence to the scoring instructions in the PCL:R Manual, and access to extensive interview and collateral information. So taking a test on internet doesn’t carry much value and you may have a wrong perception about yourself. 20 traits of PCL-R:
- Interpersonal
- Glib and Superficial charm
- Grandiose sense of self worth
- Deceitful/manipulative
- Pathological lying
- Many short-term marital relationship
- Affect (means emotion/expression)
- Lacks remorse or guilt
- Lack empathy
- Shallow affect
- Doesn’t accept responsibility
- Need for stimulation or proneness to boredom
- Lifestyle
- Is impulsive
- Lacks long term realistic goal
- Is irresponsible
- Parasitic lifestyle
- Promiscuous sexual behavior
- Anti-social (the person has a history of)
- Poor behavioral control
- Adolescent anti-social behavior
- Adult anti-social behavior
- Revocation of conditional issue
- Criminal versatility
So, if a trait is a clear match you will get 2 points, for partial or sometimes match 1 point, and for no match 0 point. From 20 traits you can have lowest score of 0 or highest of 40. Based on score psychopathy is further classified into Mild Psychopathy (10–19), Moderate Psychopathy (20–29), and Severe Psychopathy (30 and above). For forensic and legal purpose 30 is the cut off point. So if you score more than 30, you are a psychopath. An average person scores less than 5 on this scale. Few clinicians divide psychopaths into sub-types based on score on each of interpersonal, affective, lifestyle and anti-social domain.
Psychopathy sub-type:
- Classic style: Who score high on all four domains These are violent criminals, sex offenders, con artists, serial killers. They will probably end up in prison. Much of the fear associated with psychopathy is because of them and macho type.
- Manipulative style: Who score high on interpersonal and affective domain and somewhat low in lifestyle and anti-social domain. Some Violent psychopaths along with top CEOs, lawyers, surgeons, salespersons, media persons, journalists, police officers, clergy persons, chefs score in this pattern. We can call them sub-criminal psychopaths.
- Macho style: Scores high in all four except interpersonal domain. These are cold blooded offenders who invariably use violent means, they lack the charm, confidence, and manipulative ability of classical type, so resort into violence.
Each trait is described below with some insightful comments from psychopaths and observers
- GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM — the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. Witty, articulate, amusing, entertaining conversationalist, well-read across several subjects but usually superficial knowledge; have interest in sociology, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, law, poetry, literature, and art.
“I sat down and took out my clipboard, and the first thing this guy told me was what beautiful eyes I had. He managed to work quite a few compliments on my appearance into the interview, so by the time I wrapped things up, I was feeling unusually… well, pretty. I’m a wary person, especially on the job, and can usually spot a phony. When I got back outside, I couldn’t believe I’d fallen for a line like that.” (A forensic psychiatrist describing her experience)
“Dick! Smooth, smart. Yes you had to hand it to him. Christ, it was incredible how he could con a guy.” (In cold blood)
“What is negative about articulation skills?”
- GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH — a grossly inflated view of one’s abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. They are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings. They love to have power and control over others and seem unable to believe that other people can have valid opinion other than theirs. They may appear charismatic and electrifying to others. All problems are temporary setbacks for them.
“We’ve all got the power in our hands to kill, but most people are afraid to use it. The ones who aren’t afraid, control life itself.”
“I don’t have any weakness, except may be I am too caring.”
“How can I attain something if I don’t reach high”
“There’s been 11 hardback books on me, 31 paperbacks, two screenplays, one movie, one off-Broadway play, five songs, and over 5,000 articles. What can I say about it? I have no ego for any of this garbage.”
- DECEITFUL and MANIPULATIVE — Lying, deception and manipulation are natural talent for psychopaths.
“I have a transcript of a new Osama bin Laden tape — one that proved a “partnership” between Al Qaeda and Iraq. Iraqis possessed a drone plane that could fly 500 kilometers, violating U.N. rules that limit the range of Iraqi weapons to 150k.”
“Hey, it’s, uh . . . it’s Tiger, can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and, uh, may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. And, um . . . just have it as a number on the voice mail. OK? You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right, bye.”
“Why be truthful with enemy, isn’t persuasion the term that you use?”
- PATHOLOGICAL LYING — can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
“What would any tyrannical regime possessing WMD think viewing the history of the world’s diplomatic dance with Saddam? Our capacity to pass firm resolutions is only matched by our feebleness in implementing them.”
“For all of this, I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you can ever know or believe, I did not mislead this country. I made the decision in good faith and I believe it is better we took that decision. I acknowledge the mistakes and accept responsibility for them.”
“What I cannot and will not do is say we took the wrong decision … As this report makes clear, there were no lies, there was no deceit.”
- MANY SHORT TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIP — a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.
“Sure I took their money, but they got their money’s worth out of me. I fulfilled their need. They got affection, attention, companionship, and in some cases got love. There were times we didn’t even get out of bed.”
- LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT — Stunning lack of concern for the consequence of their action. A lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, cold hearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one’s victims.
“They made too much noise. Also I wanted them to keep their silence.” (comment by a serial child rapist)
“You know the emotions of omissions or commissions doesn’t bother me. Try to touch the past. Try to deal with the past. It is not real. It is dream.”
“Remorse implies you did something wrong. If I’m the one who stabbed him, it was an accident.”
“Guilt? It is the mechanism we use to control people. Its an illusion. It’s a kind of social control mechanism and its very unhealthy.”
- LACK OF EMPATHY — a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless. Unable to walk emotionally in the shoes of the others but they can do it intellectually. Psychopaths view people as objects to be used for their own gratification. Psychopaths have general lack of empathy unlike soldiers or physicians who have selective lack of empathy either for opponent or patient. They are indifferent to right and suffering of both family and strangers.
“Empathy towards an enemy is a sign of weakness.”
“I just wanted to see how it felt to shoot Grandma.”
“It wasn’t as dark and scary as it sounds. I had a lot of fun…killing somebody’s a funny experience.”
“I am sorry for only two things. These two things are I am sorry that I have mistreated some few animals in my life-time and I am sorry that I am unable to murder the whole damed human race.”
- SHALLOW AFFECT — They appear cold and unemotional; they are prone to dramatic, shallow and short lived display of emotion. All the emotions are cognitive in nature, emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
“There are emotions I know their name but cannot feel.”
“You feel the last bit of breath leaving their body. You’re looking into their eyes. A person in that situation is God.” “No. I keep myself in control. Like, I decide how much I want to hurt the guy.”
“Anger can lead you to be labeled as psychopath.”
- FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS — a failure to accept responsibility for one’s actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial. Obligation and commitment mean nothing to psychopaths. Psychopaths see children as inconvenience.
“The only thing they can get me for is running a funeral parlor without a license.”
“I saw the light over the confessional and the voice said: That’s the person to kill.”
“I was never involved in any violent offense but once i had to kill someone.”
- NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM — an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Love to live on the edge and in present. Psychopaths often have a low self- discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
“I live for the hunt—my life.”
“I couldn’t find any meaning for my life when I was out there, I’m sure as hell not going to find it in here. This is the grand finale of a life poorly spent and the end result is just overwhelmingly depressing… it’s just a sick, pathetic, wretched, miserable life story, that’s all it is. How it can help anyone, I’ve no idea.”
“It needs courage to reject routine, monotony, or uninteresting.”
- IMPULSIVITY — the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless. They tend to live day by day. “I did it because I feel like it.” “.. can be associated with creativity, living in the now, being spontaneous and free.”
- LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS — an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.
“A psychopath with a fake orthopedic surgery degree was arrested by Canadian police. Later it revealed he worked as psychiatrist, social worker, undercover custom agent, police officer, psychologist specializing in marital problem in other places; when asked how he did it he replied I read a lot”
- IRRESPONSIBLE — repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.
“We shouldn’t focus on human weaknesses that are common.”
- PARASITIC LIFESTYLE — an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.
“I was in great shape financially before I met her. In less than two years she blew through all of my savings. After she moved in, she barley worked a day. I was responsible for everything. I’m 53 and by the time she took off I had nothing left, not even my 401Ks for retirement. I was highly in debt and I even had to sell my house. She ruined me and walked away like it was just another day at the ballpark.”
- PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR — a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.
“Basically, New Yorkers know the story. I did it. I did it with multiple people. These things were wrong and inappropriate, and I never should have been dishonest about it. They played out in the most public and embarrassing way possible. And that’s it.”
- EARLY BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM — This may be persistent lying, cheating, theft, fire setting, truancy, class disruption, vandalism, bullying, precocious sexuality, cruelty to animal.
- JUVENILE DELINQUENCY — behavior problems between the ages of 13- 18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.
“Is a criminal record reflective of badness or non-conformity?”
- ADULT ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR — verbal abuse, bullying and hitting; or covert, involving aggressive actions against property, such as theft, vandalism, and fire-setting; or person.
- REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE — a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.
“Six weeks after receiving parole for robbery and murder, Jack Abbott killed a waiter who was a part-time actor. Abbott wondered what all the fuss was about: “There was no pain, it was a clean wound. He had no future as an actor—chances are he would have gone into another line of work.”
- CRIMINAL VERSATILITY — a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.
“How long is your rap sheet?” “29 to 30 pages longs.” “30 pages! Charles Manson is only five.” “But he is only a killer.” (means I am a versatile criminal, he is just a killer, so).”
“A psychopath with a fake orthopedic surgery degree was arrested by Canadian police. Later it revealed he worked as psychiatrist, social worker, undercover custom agent, police officer, psychologist specializing in marital problem in other places; when asked how he did it he replied I read a lot”