Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
09:29
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
16.0K
Unmasking Cleckley's psychopath: assessing historical case studies
Hilary L DeShong1, Ashley C Helle1, Stephanie N Mullins-Sweatt1
1Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Personality and Mental Health
|March 3, 2016
Summary
This study found that professionals’ ratings of psychopathy align with current definitions and the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality traits. These findings suggest the FFM effectively describes psychopathy
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Investigated historical case descriptions of psychopathy (Cleckley, 1941).
- Examined psychopathy in relation to current conceptualizations and general personality traits.
Observation:
- Professionals (attorneys, forensic psychologists, clinical faculty) rated vignettes based on Cleckley's psychopath descriptions.
- Assessed psychopathy and personality traits using standardized rating scales.
Findings:
- Professional ratings of psychopathy were consistent with contemporary conceptualizations.
- The Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits in vignettes matched literature on psychopathy (low neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness).
- A general trait model, like the FFM, appears suitable for describing psychopathy's underlying personality structure.
Implications:
- Supports the utility of the FFM in understanding psychopathy.
- Suggests a framework for consistent assessment and diagnosis of psychopathy.
- Highlights the potential for FFM to inform treatment and intervention strategies for psychopathic individuals.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Case Studies
13.8K
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
13.8K
01:30Psychosurgery
2.2K
Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
2.2K
01:19Introduction to Psychological Disorders
1.6K
Abnormal behavior, often referred to as mental illness, results from changes in brain function that influence thought patterns, behaviors, and social interactions. Psychologists and psychiatrists typically assess abnormal behavior using three primary criteria: deviance, maladaptation, and personal distress, particularly when these traits persist over long periods.
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
1.6K
01:29Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder
1.0K
The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
1.0K
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
829
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
829
01:17Cognitivism
3.4K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
3.4K