CLASS 30 Personality Disorders in DSM5 A Definition

CLASS 30

Personality Disorders in DSM-5

A Definition A longstanding, maladaptive pattern of inflexible behavior

TOP FIVE –Antisocial Personality Disorder –Borderline Personality Disorder –Paranoid Personality Disorder –Narcissistic Personality Disorder –Dependent Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder v Current DSM label v Necessary to explain career criminals v Especially, cold-blooded killers v DSM always a behavioral definition

Debate over the Label v This character was recognized since Greek times • Born criminal • Moral imbecile • Sociopath

Psychopathy – Non-specific label – from Hervey Cleckley (1941) - he defined the cluster of traits that are still recognized today (more or less) - this is my preferred term

Basic characteristics v Traits – impulsive thrill-seeking – lack of empathy & guilt v Behaviors – early deceitfulness – manipulative – superficial charm – story telling – low suicide rate

Destructive outcomes v Repeated criminal activity v Substance abuse v Inability to sustain personal relationships

What is the core mechanism? v Shallow affect: – they can’t experience emotional highs or lows that normal people do – explains the entire syndrome

Famous case studies

Ted Bundy

Biography v Seattle, Washington v Intelligent, attractive, articulate v Law student at U Washington

Anti-social activity v Serial killer in early eighties v Raped and murdered 12 women from Washington state to Florida

Executed 1989 More info

Christophe Rocancourt

With one of his supermodel girlfriends

Later, modeled for police mug-shot

Biography v Raised in France: v Mother a prostitute; father an alcoholic v Violent history in Europe v Adored in North America

Character v Charming manipulator v Imposter: – millionaire, movie producer, race-car driver, boxer, etc. – member of Rothschild family – member of Rockefeller family

Other criminal behavior v Con artist: – Scammed many victims of their money v Accused of theft, fraud, attempted murder, forgery, etc. v Major crimes in NY, LA, and Vancouver v Long prison term v For more info

v Whatever happened v to Rocancourt ?

With Naomi Campbell at Cannes film festival

ORIGINS OF PSYCHOPATHY? v three categories of theories

1. Biological Perspective Brain scan shows differences v Frontal lobe abnormality may lead to deficits in planning actions and considering moral implications of actions v congenital causes? v genetic predisposition? v heritability roughly 50 percent v

2. Psychological Perspective v Problem with thought processes?

Possible Learning Deficit – normal IQ range but don’t acquire anxiety associations – therefore, impaired socialization – they don’t like punishment but are unable to benefit from it

3. Socio-cultural Perspective – Family problems - Lee Robins (1966) • divorce, conflict, inconsistent discipline, parental conflicts in parenting style, alcoholic parents – Childhood abuse and neglect – • 50 percent greater arrests among those who were neglected, 100 percent greater arrests among those who were physically abused

Q: Any Canadian Cases ?

A: Plenty

Paul Bernardo & Karla Homulka

v Paul and Karla v Lethal combination

Paul Bernardo v Hamilton, Ontario v University graduate v Successful accountant

Karla Homolka v Hamilton, Ontario v University graduate v Veterinary assistant

Antisocial activities v Paul had prior girlfriends but abused them v He and Karla had a sado-masochistic sex life v They drugged, raped and murdered three women v Including Karla’s sister v They filmed the activities to watch later v Which one was the worst psychopath?

Karla wins v Karla reports Paul to police v Gets special deal – 12 years in prison v Paul gets life in prison – no chance of parole