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PSYCHOPATH COMPARED TO SELECTED OFFENDERS

NCJ Number
46656
Journal
MILITARY POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT JOURNAL Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 10-13
Author(s)
J E WHEELER
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHOPATHIC, NEUROTIC, ACTING-OUT NEUROTIC, PSYCHOTIC, DISSOCIAL, AND SITUATIONAL OFFENDERS ARE BRIEFLY EXAMINED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME DEGREE OF DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS A SPECIFIC PSYCHOPATHIC SYNDROME, GENERAL PROFILES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS CAN BE GIVEN. IN GENERAL THE PSYCHOPATHIC OFFENDER IS AN ASOCIAL, AGGRESSIVE, HIGHLY IMPULSIVE INDIVIDUAL WHO FEELS LITTLE OR NO GUILT AND IS UNABLE TO FORM LASTING BONDS OF AFFECTION WITH OTHERS. THE NEUROTIC OFFENDER MAY BE CHARACTERIZED AS AN INSECURE, COMPULSIVE, OVERANXIOUS INDIVIDUAL WHO USUALLY HAS A POOR SELF-CONCEPT AND IS OFTEN GUILT-RIDDEN. THE ACTING-OUT NEUROTIC ALSO EXHIBITS TENSION, ANXIETY, INFERIORITY, COMPULSIVENESS, AND INSECURITY; BUT UNLIKE THE NEUROTIC WHO REACTS WITH SELF-REPRESSION, THE ACTING-OUT NEUROTIC OFFENDER TENDS TO REACT WITH AGGRESSION. THE PSYCHOTIC OFFENDER IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SERIOUS LOSS OF CONTACT WITH REALITY WHICH IN TURN GIVES RISE TO HALLUCINATIONS AND DELUSIONS. THE PSYCHOTIC IS OFTEN APATHETIC, AND MAY EXHIBIT A SPLITTING OF THE PERSONALITY AND GRADUAL MENTAL DETERIORATION. OFFENSES ARE OFTEN REACTIONS TO HALLUCINATIONS OR DELUSIONS, ARE IMPULSIVE, AND OFTEN ARE EXTREMELY ASOCIAL AND BIZARRE. THE DISSOCIAL OFFENDER IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE BEHAVIOR CONFORMS TO THE STANDARDS OF HIS SUBCULTURE BUT NOT TO NORMAL SOCIAL STANDARDS. ALTHOUGH DISSOCIAL OFFENDERS MAY EXHIBIT PERSONALITY DISORDERS AS A RESULT OF STRESS STEMMING FROM THEIR CRIMINAL CONDUCT, THEY GENERALLY DO NOT SHOW ANY SIGNIFICANT ABNORMALITY IN BEHAVIOR OUTSIDE OF ADHERENCE TO NONNORMATIVE STANDARDS AND VALUES. PROSTITUTES OR MOONSHINERS ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS TYPE OF OFFENDER. THE SITUATIONAL OFFENDER IS USUALLY A FIRST OFFENDER WHOSE OFFENSE IS A ONE-TIME RESPONSE TO THE CONTINGENCIES OF THE MOMENT. HE OR SHE MAY REACT AGGRESSIVELY, IMPULSIVELY, AND IN AN ANTISOCIAL MANNER, BUT THE ACTION IS UNREPRESENTATIVE OF USUAL PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. THE MAN WHO MURDERS HIS WIFE IN A MOMENT OF FURY, OR THE UNWITTING VIOLATOR OF THE MANN ACT ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS TYPE. EACH OFFENDER IS A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL WITH PARTICULAR TALENTS, CAPABILITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND REACTION PATTERNS TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. UNDERSTANDING THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS IS IMPORTANT, FOR THERE IS NO ONE TYPE OF CRIMINAL AND NO ONE TYPE OF PERSONALITY THAT INEVITABLY LEADS TO CRIME. THE PSYCHOPATHIC OFFENDER HAS A DEFINITE UNIQUE PERSONALITY SYNDROME, HOWEVER, AND TECHNIQUES WHICH WILL WORK WITH OTHER TYPES WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE WITH THIS PERSONALITY; THE PSYCHOPATHIC OFFENDER MUST RECEIVE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)