Exposing The Masters of Disguise: Unveiling the Truth Behind the Masks of Psychopaths
Exposing The Masters of Disguise:
Unveiling the Truth Behind the Masks of Psychopaths
Hannah Rich
Oakland University
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Despite decades of controversy over nature versus nurture, science and psychology still
probes for answers in the uncharted depths of the human psyche. If one believes in good and
evil, what makes us one or the other? On the surface, it’s a seemingly simple question, yet,
exceptionally unsettling—one that researchers are now beginning to answer. Our culture’s
fascination with the bad, immoral person goes further than just morbid curiosity. My research
process began with the evolution of my general topic choice: psychopathy. That selection stems
from my long-term interest in psychology, my field of study. Little research time passed before it
became evident that psychopathy itself is too broad of a subject for what this assignment calls
for. I then generated my topic into its specific concentration on psychopathy and sociopathy
because of my intrigue with these states and their positions in science and psychology.
Subsequently, I narrowed down my topic to exposing the truth behind the minds of sociopaths
and psychopaths, and why the real distinction between the two terms is so vital. After modifying
my general topic, I gained major supporting rationales that provided suitable angles pertaining to
my subject and overarching argument. Avoiding a messy approach to manifest a tangled web of
ideas, I utilized professional tools and tactics in order to productively generate and connect the
key related notions drawing from the center shape my focus and argument. My research process
was planned out accordingly, to not just display what I know, but to also discover what I know
and think. The methods I used accumulated of many ways for critically thinking and reading,
learning how to effectively conduct research, evaluating the sources, determining purpose,
audience and voice. My research blueprint was made up of prewriting, visually clustering,
outlining, working with templates like the Pyramid, and creating an idea map. Reflecting on one
of developments of my process, my idea map began with sociopathy versus psychopathy in the
middle, which provided a host for all the questions and ideas that could be said about my topic;
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general categories relating to the central controversy. Then, I generated a topic about each
category. For example, the center lines drew to categories such as “Causes/roots of …” ,
“Personality traits”, “Common myths & their truths”, and “Links to crime”, of both psychopathy
and sociopathy separately, and more general categorical parts of the map. Drawn from each of
those were more specific topics to research and incorporate in my proven findings and
supporting claims. For example, stemming from “Causes/Roots of [psychopaths/sociopaths]”
were narrowed to inquiries such as “History of term?”, “Nature or nurture?”, “Brain structure
differences?”, “Environmental/genetic influences?” and so on. Along with mapping and
brainstorming, I created an outline with an introduction, which set the context, explained why,
and stated my main thesis. Second, I included the start of the body, composed of building of
points, developing ideas, and using credible means supporting the main claim. Lastly, my outline
had a closing portion, which reemphasized my topic’s main idea and restated my overarching
argument. The evolution of the continuum made up of my broad subject area, next the topic for
exploration within that subject area, then the key question that concerns me, and finally my
thesis. It took a great deal of reading, critically thinking, and reordering composed results so they
concentrate on the dominating aspect of my topic before I got to the point of conjuring up a
strong thesis without the supporting ideas drifting away from the main claim. I worked with
means of demystifying academic conversation, entering such conversations, using what others
say, learning the art of analyzing and summarizing, studying the ways to respond to what others
say, and distinguishing what they say from what I say. Aside from the strategic ways I evolved
my research process, there are specific elements to be strained out and rationalized. Using
Kresge Library’s “Library One” search gate, I filtered many crucial items to gauge results that
would aid my argument, be more to my advantage, and sift through the broad results that would
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yield little consistent viewpoints or corresponding conclusions that would otherwise align with
my main claim. For instance, I filtered my results so it would only yield scholarly peer reviewed
pieces. I did not specify any dates to be filtered because I want my results to be comprised of
psychopathy and sociopathy’s history in its entirety, which is important to deem my summarized
findings as valid. I included keywords, interchangeably and compiled within quotation marks or
separated, to yield different results ranging from only 3 results to as many as 313,337 results for
instance when I specifically searched: ”psychology” “society” “disorders”. Other keywords I
input were: “psychology” “psychopathy” “psychopaths” “Psychopathy effects on society
“Dangerous Minds” “Manipulation” “How the Psychopath Manufactures Our Emotions”
“Psychology: Applied:” “Awareness” “Aftermath” “Psychological Science in the Public
Interest” “Disorders” “Evolution” “Policy” “Personality Traits” “Nature” “Nurture” “Brain
Differences” “Innate” “Crime and Psychopathy” “Psychopaths Linked to Crime” “Famous
Psychopaths” “Scientific Evidence of Psychopathy” “Without Conscience” “Evil” “Social
Predators” “emotional abuse”. A vital source of evidence used was the American Psychiatric
Association, which proposed big changes to the personality disorder section of the DSM-5 in
2010. The new edition moves away from specific personality disorders to a system of
dysfunctional types and traits. The idea, according to the APA, is to cut out the overlap and
create categories that would be useful for patients who have personality problems, not just fullblown disorders. I also researched efficiently by using published recent evidence that scores on
the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) which evaluates individuals personalities and
indications of psychopathy roots, which greatly contributes to my topic’s emphasized thesis. I
downloaded 4 PDFs that seemed useful and worthwhile, including “Early Traumatic Events in
Psychopaths” (Boria & Ostrosky, 2013), “Conduct Disorders” (Buitelaar, 2013), and
Exposing The Masters of Disguise
“Psychopathy and Instrumental Aggression: Evolutionary, Neurobiological, and Legal
Perspectives” (Gelenn & Raine, 2002). Additionally, I pulled evidence from an article that
opposed my side of the topic, “Psychopathy: A Misunderstood Personality Disorder” (Menon
2011), which provided me with notions I either hadn’t considered yet, or needed to be further
addressed. In summation, my unbiased research process dealing with an arguable issue turned
out to be conclusive and establishes common ground with readers while taking opposing view
into account. My process served me well in standing up to critical reading and yielding results
supporting my position with detailed and specific evidence in more than just one discipline.
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Barret, G. (2008). Scientists search for the seat of evil. USA today: health, (1), 1-3.
Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2001-05-10-brainremorse.htm
This source’s content exclusively highlights the main points of the topic through explicit
evidence and descriptive rationalizations with the use of secondary sources. Referring to noted
names, dates, and events that investigate to the dark psyche of psychopaths and the immense
damage they have done, and the supposition of their relation to the cause of such happenings.
The source includes and possible scientific revelations leading to more answers on the topic. He
employs credible support for both main points—first, the neurobiological aspect behind people
of these sorts, and second, the proof of sociopaths and psychopaths’ wraths affects in history.
The author uses reason when referring to specific scientists and research studies pertaining to the
supporting of the topic, as well as mentioning the opposing view. It covers the overall topic of
the impact of psychopaths and sociopaths by incorporating exact manner in which the deranged
criminals committed horrific acts and their quoted reactions, and proof of structural brain
abnormalities being the root of the evil discussed. The author is consistent with other works
while stressing the neuropsychological and criminology research conducted and the findings
concluded by other acclaimed analysts in this specific field of study. It says that brain science
believes that regret stems from the compacted grey matter of human skulls in the frontal lobe or
the limbic regions, broadly. This source uses secondary references as evidence to support the
major points which align with my argument of causes of such masked mavericks, scientists have
to challenge in regards to the science behind their minds. It is clearly implied that social
scientists are the opposing arguers on the source’s topic, which means they are my viewpoint’s
opposing audience as well. The source relates crime and psychopaths by naming the world’s past
tragedies— who is to blame for them, and more so, what is to blame inside of those criminals.
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This source is extremely useful because it does not just elaborate on the crimes of psychopaths,
but also the extensive reasoning behind these people and what they do, in terms of science and
environmental matters. It also admits that for all its sophistication, science does not have a
conclusive answer for how the psychopathic criminals commit what they did and then go home
and sleep at night like nothing ever happened. The source relates crime and psychopaths by
naming Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Ted Bundy, Emile Raby, and more extensively studied,
Timothy McVeigh, the self-styled terrorist that bombed and killed 149 adults, 19 children, and
made orphans of 30 children. The source states that it is at the forefront of the brain or near its
stem where civility lives, and where science believes that nature first reprimands and disciplines.
It says that it is there, that Ameirica’s acclaimed number one villain is unable to muster up the
disciplinary pang of remorse. This is consistent with other claims in brain science I have come
across in my research process. The source aligns with other scientist’s viewpoint on the topic, as
well as mine, and our opposing arguers being the hard-nosed social scientific psychologists, who
think findings like this are invalid. Those are the lesser of the bulk of results I found pertaining to
my argument on the topic. All of this source’s content was very useful to my research because it
referred to Harvard studies conducted on the topic, Drexel University, Neurologist Bruce Price,
and Dr. Robert Hare—a respected expert on psychopaths and sociopaths, he studied 500
psychopaths in the past 40 years. I can use these supportive references and their discoveries and
proposals to contribute to my argument. It changed how I think about the topic by making it
more visual and descriptive, and connecting more emotional ties to the topic.
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Bonn, S. (2012). The difference between psychopaths and sociopaths. Doc
bonn
explains, (1), 1-15. Retrieved from http://docbonn.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/docbonn-explains-the- difference-between-a-sociopath-and-a-psychopath/
Dr. Bonn’s scholarly reviewed article focuses on the differentiation between psychopaths and
sociopaths. It clarifies of the vital distinctions between the two conditions’, with the author’s
emphasis on their etiology. The text specifically states that psychopathy and sociopathy are terms
dealt with in the fields of psychology and criminology. The crime studies the article refers to
include examinations of these so-called mental disorders, their link to crime, and likelihood of
such conditions being at fault for some of the world’s deviant conduct. The author reminds us
that even though professionals lack outstanding consensus on what exactly sets sociopaths and
psychopaths apart, there exists a large sum of those, attentive and educated about the topic, who
support such affirmations of heavy segregation between each. . Unlike those who oppose this
viewpoint, he states that criminologists and psychiatrists use the terms interchangeably—parallel
to society’s ignorance of too. Sociopathy and psychopathy share many traits, which is the main
source of confusion for differentiating them in psychology and criminology. Insisting his claim’s
validity, the source then continues with an extensive list of vital differences between sociopathy
and psychopathy—clarifying that they are not the same, and they are to be warned about—
psychopathy in particular, tracing back to crime studies. Then, the text covered the authors
emphasized subtopic, the causes of sociopaths and psychopaths, and reports that they are very
different. In summation, he argues that sociopathy is due to environmental factors, whereas the
wrath of psychopathy is attributed to genes and innate brain deformities. The author implies that
both should be considered as more than just “disorders”, they are threatening beings, not like the
majority. Psychopaths in particular, the proven criminals having exhibited psychopathic traits, as
well as brain differences when examined by a PET scan.
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As a specialist doctor with a PhD. and merited Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Drew
University and a media expert, Dr. Bonn is a very credible source and respected author regarding
sociopathy and psychopathy. The source previously referred to is one of his many works in
support of the importance of the crucial distinction between the two conditions (for lack of a
more official term). The author is currently writing a book about the public’s fascination with
serial killers. Society, more precisely our culture, does have a certain fascination with good, evil,
and beyond. This includes the interest in what is unknown—the disturbing truths about
psychopaths and their so-called, cousin, sociopaths, that would surprise and scare any audience.
This source exhibits facts and arguments in line with the many other works on the topic, the first
major standpoint that society is ignorant and ill-informed regarding this topic and there is a
undying need for raise of awareness, as well as further groping of what resources professionals
can use in order to reach more verified findings to be publicized. One main point this source
explicitly argued that it is of great significance, the different traits of each, as well as the
different causes of each, sociopaths versus psychopaths, which allies my position. The author
argues using new valid research findings that psychopathy “nature” (genetics) while sociopathy
is the result of “nurture” (environment). The article elaborates on this, stating that psychopathy
relates to a physiological brain defect that results in the underdevelopment or absence of one of
the most human, so to speak, areas of our brains. The source is unquestionable with evidence to
back up the claims about psychopathy causes point to brain differences, that certain part of the
brain accountable for impulse control and emotions. In contrast to sociopathy, which the article
describes as more the product of external forces, like abuse and childhood trauma and abuse, or
growth of the traits in adulthood, rather than being innate. The source concludes the text’s model
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by strictly insisting that sociopaths are capable of empathy or emotional connection with others
but only to specific individuals and only in specific contexts. On the other hand, psychopaths, are
literally incapable of empathy, remorse, love, moral reasoning and are unable to form real
emotional bonds with anyone, in any circumstance. Again, the source’s credentials and
incorporated findings prove these claims to be difficult to retort, which lines up with my main
point, supporting there being a big division between sociopathy and psychopathy, with contrasts
that can affect society as a whole, statistically upheld, if the uninformed don’t comprehend the
severity of my topic’s threat. The text then reasons that it is psychopaths great ability to mimic
those normal human emotions, that certainly make them a danger to everyone, with supporting
proof duly noted of them often being extremely successful criminals in our world. The central
focus is clearly expressed by explaining the traits of each term, asserting that misconceptions
among us remain because they do share some traits, but must comprehend the characteristics that
set them apart, are those of most potential to harm society. It provided content useful to my
research and stance by linking psychopaths to famous horrific criminals such as Ted Bundy and
Dennis Rader as being evident psychopaths. Additionally, Miguel Rivera (known as, “Charlie
Chop-off”), is illustrated as a archetypal example of sociopathic and disorganized serial killer, as
is Jack the Ripper. This source is very advanced in his knowledge of the topic, firm with
positions, and includes a good amount of applicable evidence. That being said, the article was
not too complex nor too elementary or technical, it is just right in providing supporting research
fitting my stance on the topic. The source was proportionate with delivering his argument and
main points—the trait differences of, the links to crime, and the differences in the topic’s
etiology. Among various reviewers on the article, the comments implied a strong ruling of
agreement with the source, much like how I feel about it’s informative content being of great use
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to my research topic. It provides substantial specifics only found by that source, specifics that
connect with the main viewpoints of my research being the distinction between psychopathy and
sociopathy, all of the subtopics that come from that, as well as my position that the red flags of
these conditions, their potential to harm, and the factual stance that a percentage of my audience
could very well be sitting next to one just as I speak of society’s oblivious or underestimation of
the topic and the necessity for a greater abundance of light to be shed on it. After all, it is
established by this unbiased source, as well as several others, the evident likelihood of the topic
being a matter of life and death. Hence the need for public learning the facts and interpreting the
warnings of psychopathy and sociopathy. This topic does not exclude any audience type, as it
can affect everyone, which is why it is to be attended to and taken seriously, as this source
agrees. This source made me put greater emphasis on marked differences between the
methodology of crimes committed by both sociopaths and psychopaths. I didn’t find it as straight
forward and easy to understand from any other source pointing out the intricate distinction
between the two’s criminal tactics. The author claims that those differences can be more
essential to criminology, as opposed to psychology. That certain piece of content is the only
portion I have mixed feelings about. On one hand, I agree that the evidence of little traces that set
criminals apart from psychopathic or sociopathic criminals could be incredibly useful in
predetermining and preventing or capturing crimes that would otherwise be destructive. On the
other hand, I still insist that psychology is the study of the soul and mind, and remains the
grounds on which these 2 conditions stand upon. Yet, I concede to the suggestion that that
assertion can be scrutinized just as I did the source’s. Nevertheless, the source will serve to
support my research papers arguments with the additive exposure of these marked details
pertaining to criminology, as one subtopic of mine is comparing and contrasting each one’s links
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to crime. This issue is important because it can affect (and proved to have done so many a time)
every being living in the world with sociopaths and psychopaths among us.
Pemment, J. (2013). Psychopathy versus sociopathy: why the distinction has become
crucial. Aggression and violent behavior, 18(5), 458.
This technical paper examines how the words sociopath and psychopath are often used
interchangeably, arguing that this compromises many controls within the field, especially
criminology. The source argues the main point that the issue seems to be that as research on the
topic has advanced, psychopathy now demands more specific true meaning. The source states
that psychopathy is the more common of the two terms, and the lack of a more definitive
definition for it is what isolates it from its separated counterpart sociopathy. It argues that there is
major hesitance in several departments negotiating with criminology to continue the trend of
using the terms interchangeably. The source focuses on the fact that it is crucial that these terms
fit into brain science accurately. In the paper, the source presents how the terms are currently
utilized in neuroscience and psychology fields, as well as proposing how they should progress.
This source is extremely useful to my research process. It is not biased and is undeniably reliable
based on Pemment’s credentials as a university professor and a contributor to the topic and its
relating article derived from Elsevier Ltd. In the source’s own article that focuses on violent
behavior and aggression in psychological and neuroscientific terms, the content is worthy of
praise and use on my part. It includes an objective introduction on the topic, factual history and
growth of sociopathy and psychopathy, finding a place for sociopathy in science and psychology,
morality and beliefs, as well as a part about injury and dementia. The source’s viewpoint is
consistent with other sources in that the two terms should be more formally distinguished and
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why audience should care about the difference. This aligns with my line of reasoning for my
paper as well. He referred to secondary trustworthy sources like Robert Hare, who is referred to
in much of the other sources I came across, and hold great respect for his ideas. This source aids
me in shaping my argument by incorporating more substantial background, the history and
growth of the topic, to inform my audience before arguing my point. The source’s content is very
useful to me, besides the part about dementia. It contributes to one of my main ideas being that
these conditions are linked to aggression and violent behavior. I feel confident using this credible
source to provide reliable insight on this topic while composing my research paper.
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Even after decades of the contentious debate about nature versus nuture, science and society is
still probing for answers to the multifaceted recesses of Society’s fascination with
Keywords used: “psychology” “psychopathy” “psychopaths” “Psychopathy effects on society”
(society interchangeable with ___) “Dangerous Minds” “Manipulation” “How the Psychopath
Manufactures Our Emotions” “Psychology: Applied:
“Awareness” “Aftermath” “Psychological Science in the Public Interest” “Disorders”
“Evolution” “Policy” “Personality Traits” “Nature” “Nurture” “Brain Differences” “Innate”
“Emotional Rape”
“Psychopaths Linked to Crime” “Famous Psychopaths” “Scientific Evidence of Psychopathy”
“Without Conscience” “Evil” “Social Predators” “emotional abuse” “Charming and
Charismatic” “A Painful Incredulity and Cognitive Dissonance”
Used Kresage ‘Library One’ Search for the most part as secondary research
Also, scholarly websites devoted to psychology my field of study such as Robert Hare’s
Publications of Validated research findings proving psychopathy is due to brain differences
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Hare.org, Psychobabble
The UCB
Department of Psychology Newsletter
From Nature, 410, 15 March 2001. www.nature.com
Used Primary source documented evidence/commentary of my own inside my PTSD binder
Referred to American Psychiatric Association site (apa.org) and articles, as well as books and the
sites of specialists on the topic specifically,
American Psychiatric Association has proposed big changes to the personality disorder section of
the DSM-5 in 2010. The new edition would move away from specific personality disorders to a
system of dysfunctional types and traits. The idea, according to the APA, is to cut out the overlap
and create categories that would be useful for patients who have personality problems, not just
full-blown disorders.
Used Research opposing my papers notion Psychopath guru blocks critical article authored by
prominent scholars Jennifer Skeem of UC Irvine and David Cooke of Glasgow University and
two psychology-law leaders, psychologist Norman Poythress and attorney John Petrila of the
University of South Florida (two authors of a leading forensic psychology text, Psychological
Evaluations for the Courts)
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Used published recent evidence that scores on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)
which evaluates individuals personalities and indications of psychopathy roots
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search for "psychology" "society" "disorders" returned 313,337 results
-did not filter dates because wanted to know as much about the topic, its history, the evolution of
it as whichever category it may reside in (i.e., disorder, inhuman, (to be euthanized at birth), a
different kind of human, brain defects, ect.)
filtered: Refine your search
Items with full text online
Limit to articles from scholarly publications, including peer-review
Exclude Newspaper Articles
Add results beyond your library's collection
I used the research outlet and downloaded and read two PDFs
2 books/e-books Neuropsychiatric disorders
by Miyoshi, Kōhō; Morimura, Yasushi; Maeda, Kiyoshi
2010, 1st Edition., ISBN 4431538704, p. 345
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Full Text
Around the world societies are facing growing aging populations with the
Online
concomitant increase in neuropsychiatric disorders... Medicine & Public
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Health, Neuropsychiatry, Electronic books,Neurodegenerative Diseases, Brain
Diseases
AND…
The psychology of mental disorders
by Myerson, Abraham
Full Text
1927, vii p., 1 ?., 135
Online
Psychology, Pathological, Insanity (Law)
Book
Journal Conduct disorders
by Buitelaar, Jan K; Smeets, Kirsten C; Herpers, Pierre; Scheepers,
Floor; Glennon, Jeffrey;Rommelse, Nanda N J
European child & adolescent psychiatry, ISSN 1018-8827, 02/2013, Volume 22
Suppl 1, Issue 1, pp. S49 - 54
Conduct disorder (CD) is a frequently occurring
Full Text
psychiatric disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of aggressive and non-
Online
aggressive rule breaking antisocial behaviours that lead to considerable
burden... Medicine & Public Health, Conduct Disorder psychology, Guidelines, Dsm-5, Medication
Journal Article
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:
Full Text Online
Journal article
full text
Early traumatic events in psychopaths
by Borja, Karina and Ostrosky, Feggy
Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN 0022-1198,
07/2013, Volume 58, Issue 4, pp. 927 - 931
.... On the interpersonal level, psychopaths are arrogant, callous,
superficially charming, and manipulative... physical, emotional and
Full Text
Online
sexual abuse, Criminology, Forensic psychiatry, inmates
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t rather that repeated displays of it in the media have a tendency to glorify a condition that's
unbelievably destructive to civilization.
It exposes psychopathic behavior and shows why it fails everytime.
BAI
Psychopaths aren’t capable of morality. Find out what happens when they target those who are.
BEWARE, BAIT FOR BRAINWASHB
MASSACRES OF A SELF-PROCLAIMED MAVERICK H
THE THE LANGUAGE OF DELUSIONAL DOUBLE-SPEAK
BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL

Partners in Evil: The Psychopath and Malignant Narcissist Combo

Psychopaths and Justice: As you make your bed so you must lie in it
REAL LIFE VAMPIRES
FIFTY SHADES OF _____
SADISM
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE
Exposing The Masters of Disguise

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Rebel without a cause
DANGEROUS DARK SOULS
ONCE NOTHING BUT A LAB RAT
ORIZON 2011-201HEADS YOU LOSE, TAILS HE WINS?

See no Evil: Why is there so Little Psychopathy Awareness

Shattering the Psychopathic Disguise
SHATTERING THE PSYCHOPATHIC DISGUISE
THE MASK OF INSANITY UNVEALED
“What makes us good or evil? It’s a simple but deeply unsettling question. One that scientists are
now starting to answer.
Horizon meets the researchers who have studied some of the most terrifying people behind bars
– psychopathic killers.
But there was a shock in store for one of these scientists, Professor Jim Fallon, when he
discovered that he had the profile of a psychopath. And the reason he didn’t turn out to be a killer
holds important lessons for all of us.
We meet the scientist who believes he has found the moral molecule and the man who is using
this new understanding to rewrite our ideas of crime and punishment.
Linked videos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b014kj65/Horizon_20112012_Are_You_Good_or_Evil/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b014kj65/Horizon_20112012_Are_You_Good_or_Evil/#p
rogramme-info
Source
Posted in The Media, The New World Order | Leave a response
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“Your greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look.” ~Caesar
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#3 on psychologys most controversial psychiatric disorders http://www.livescience.com/12908top-10-controversial-psychiatric-disorders.html
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