We know only too well that by far the majority of psychopaths are men. Or at least we think we know that. Could it be that the criteria used to identify psychopaths are biased towards men? After all Hare began his work in male prison.
Think about it. While behaving and being the way the PCL-R without doubt earns one the label psychopath, this is simply a list of symptoms. It says nothing about the underlying dynamics. If psychopathy is life centered on the principle of power (as opposed to love) and if it is therefore characterised by what Liane Leedom nicely calls ‘warped empathy‘, then wouldn’t you expect there to be more or less the same number of woman as men psychopaths? And wouldn’t you expect them to come across differently?
I am beginning to wonder whether there may be two broad types of psychopathy – a ‘male’-type and a ‘female’-type. I place these in quotes because, when I think about it, men with might be thought of as ‘female’ psychopathy come to mind and we all know about women with ‘male’ psychopathy. And yet, at the risk of being un-PC, I want to maintain these descriptors for now so that the difference I think I see doesn’t disappear.
A ‘female’ psychopath would not necessarily commit crimianl/antisocial acts like her male counterpart, but she woud be as power-driven, as toxically narcissistic as a ‘male’ psychopath. The control, the manipulation, the dishonesty, the selfishness, the callousness – all these would be present, but we might not recognise them for what they are because of 1. media portrayal and 2. medical diagnosis of psychopaths. The difference would come in the gendered style of their behaviour.
In my clinical work I have come across this phenomenon. For example, a woman I now consider to be of the ‘female’-type of psychopath didn’t come close to committing a crime and yet the way she mothered her daughter, my patient, came close to destroying the child’s mind. This seems to me to be a perversion of motherhood eqivalent to the perversion of fatherhood we read about on this website.
Do readers have any comments? I’m particularly interested in any examples you might have of how ‘female’ psychopathy – if such a thing does exist – manifests itself?
MoonDancer
strongwoman I hope you take you dog to the vet, that might be a swollen anal gland instead of a boil. Why is your smiley face laughing? 😀
strongawoman
Hens,
Skylar showed me how to do the laughing smiley face.
Type…….
: lol :
strongawoman
Edit :
Without any spaces! Ta da…..you get da laughing face yah!!
😆
MiLo
OK, everyone is laughing, so, I’ll put some of these here….
These come from a book called “Disorder in the American Courts”, written by court reporters, word for word…. enjoy
Attorney: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?
Witness: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
…………………………………………………………………….
Attorney: She had three children, right?
Witness: Yes
Attorney: How many were boys?
Witness: None
Attorney: Were there any girls?
Witness: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
…………………………………………………………………….
Attorney: Can you describe the individual?
Witness: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Attorney: Was this a male or a female?
Witness: Unless the Circus was in town I’m going with male.
There’s more, when I have time and we need a good laugh – I must get this book…………………
darwinsmom
😆 Milo
Especially the second one made me laugh out loud… “Witness: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?” 😆
Truthspeak
Uh…..yes, it’s hilarious, but frightening when we consider that these quotes weren’t invented!!!!
Truth is far stranger than fiction, isn’t it? LOL
MiLo
Truthspeak ~ I know, I know, the frightening part – this next witness answer is one I wanted to say so many times ……
Attorney: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Witness: Are you shitting me?
or
Attorney: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
Witness: Are you qualified to ask that question?
MoonDancer
😆 wow that’s so kewl.
MiLo
Keep in mind – true word for word from court reporters –
Attor: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
Witness: No
Attor: Did you check for blood pressure?
Witness: No
Attor: Did you check for breathing?
Witness: No
Attor: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
Witness: No
Attor: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
Witness: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Attor: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
Witness: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
……………………………………………………………………………….
Attorney: Are you sexually active?
Witness: No, I just lie there.
MoonDancer
😆