Criminal Profiling Textbook Brent Turvey 4th Ed Academic

Textbook Criminal Profiling Brent Turvey 4th Ed Academic Press Isbn

Define psychopathy. List and explain 3 psychopathic characteristics found in Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist---Revised. Explain the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath? Define sadism. What 3 factors are required for a sadistic offense?

Critical Thinking Case Study Review the following case and answer the question below. Burgess et al. (1978, p. 16) present the case of “Paul,†a single white19-year-old male who was convicted of four rapes but later admitted to more than 20. According to his account, he would typically select an innocent-looking girl, around the age of 12, and force her into the woods with a knife. He further related the following: Then I’d give her a choice: I would rape her or cut off her hair. I’d tie her hands behind her back with my belt, put the point of my knife between her eyes, and threaten to kill her. Then I’d get undressed and make her lick my body and blow me because I knew she wouldn’t want to do it. I’d get all shaky and excited. I would keep her scared and frightened—her fear and suffering gave me pleasure. Sometimes while the girl was blowing me I’d burn her with a cigarette on her shoulder and ass and “come off†in her mouth, sometimes I would punch her and stomp on her hand with my work boots.… Even now when I think about a girl getting beat up, or see it on television, I get a “hard-on.†Is this an example of a sadistic offense? Justify your reasoning.

Paper For Above instruction

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. It differs from sociopathy mainly in its origins and behavioral patterns; psychopathy is often associated with genetic or neurological factors leading to more cold and calculated behavior, whereas sociopathy tends to result from environmental factors and is marked by more impulsive and erratic conduct (Hare, 1993).

According to Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R), three core psychopathic characteristics include:

  1. Superficial Charm: Individuals display a glib, superficial charm that enables them to manipulate and deceive others effortlessly. This charm masks their lack of genuine emotional connection and empathy.
  2. Lack of Empathy and Remorse: Psychopaths show a profound deficiency in feeling guilt or remorse for their actions. They are often callous, unemotional, and indifferent to the suffering they cause.
  3. Antisocial Behavior and Impulsivity: They frequently engage in irresponsible, impulsive activities without regard for consequences, often leading to criminal acts or conduct that violates societal norms (Hare, 2003).

The key difference between a psychopath and a sociopath lies in their origins and behavioral patterns. Psychopaths tend to be more calculating, manipulative, and emotionally flat, often capable of maintaining a façade of normalcy and integrating into society. Conversely, sociopaths are usually impulsive, erratic, and prone to emotional outbursts, with behaviors that are more reactive and less organized (Hare, 1993).

Sadism involves deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. It is often associated with a desire for dominance and control. The three factors required for a sadistic offense include:

  1. Intent to Cause Pain: The offender deliberately seeks to inflict physical or psychological suffering on the victim.
  2. Enjoyment or Pleasure from the Suffering: The offender derives sexual gratification or emotional satisfaction from the victim’s pain.
  3. Involvement of Power and Control: The act is characterized by an element of domination, asserting power over the victim through the infliction of pain (Kilpatrick & Sporer, 2014).

The case of Paul raises significant questions about the nature of sadistic offenses. His detailed account of inflicting physical and sexual abuse, combined with deriving pleasure from violence and suffering, clearly exemplifies a sadistic offense. His purposeful use of violence, threats, and mutilation to induce fear and pain aligns with the criteria for sadism, which involves not only the intention to harm but also deriving sexual excitement from the suffering inflicted (Groth, 1979).

In conclusion, understanding the psychology behind criminal behaviors such as psychopathy and sadism is crucial for effective profiling and intervention. Paul’s case underscores the need for targeted psychological assessments to identify deep-seated personality disorders that contribute to such violent behaviors.

References

  • Groth, A. N. (1979). Sadistic rapists: A biosocial inference. In A. N. Groth, D. J. Burgess, & J. L. Holstrom (Eds.),:
  • Hare, R. D. (1993). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. Guilford Press.
  • Hare, R. D. (2003). The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Multi-Health Systems.
  • Kilpatrick, J., & Sporer, S. L. (2014). Profiling sexual offenders. In J. Canter (Ed.),
  • Salekin, R. T. (2002). Psychopathy in criminal and forensic populations: An overview. In R. T. Salekin & D. R. Lynam (Eds.), The handbook of forensic psychology (pp. 89-123).
  • Forth, A. E., & Hare, R. D. (1999). Psychopathy in the criminal justice system. In T. Millon & M. Davis (Eds.),
  • Vitacco, M. J., Rogers, R., & Neumann, C. S. (2003). The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised: An examination of factor structure and construct validity. Journal of Personality Assessment, 80(2), 306-316.
  • Cleckley, H. (1941). The Mask of Sanity. Mosby.
  • Hicks, B. M., Markon, E., Patrick, C. J., & Krueger, R. F. (2010). Explicit and implicit measures of psychopathic traits. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119(2), 291-301.
  • Millon, T., & Davis, M. (1996). The Disordered Personality. Wiley & Sons.

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