Psychopaths are typically described as lacking in empathy. New research from the Netherlands, however, suggests that psychopaths have the capacity for empathy, but it’s usually turned off.
The study was just published in Brain: A journal of neurology. I heard the first author, Dr. Harma Meffert, present the research when I attended the conference sponsored by the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy in June.
The researchers asked convicted criminals, who had been diagnosed as psychopaths, to view short video clips while hooked up to fMRI machines, so that the activity in their brains could be observed. The videos showed two hands interacting in ways that were painful, loving, socially rejecting and neutral. As they watched the videos, the psychopaths’ brains did not show activity in the areas generally associated with empathy.
However, in the second part of the experiment, the psychopaths were instructed to empathize with one of the actors in the video. This time, they did show activity in the brain regions linked with empathy to approximately the same degree as the control group.
The researchers interpreted this to mean that psychopaths have the ability to feel empathy, but it is not automatic. Psychopaths only feel empathy when they consciously focus on it.
The lead author, Dr. Christian Keysers, explains the research in the video. The following articles also provide good summaries:
Researchers study brains of violent psychopaths, find empathy, on LATimes.com.
Criminal psychopaths flip a switch to ‘turn on’ empathy, on MedicalNewsToday.com.
Clears up confusion
Many Lovefraud readers, myself included, have experienced what we thought was empathy from the psychopaths in our lives. They seemed to understand how we felt. They not only said the right words, but we felt the appropriate “vibes.”
This is certainly what we saw in the beginning of the relationship when we were being seduced, but it slipped away, either slowly or suddenly. The glimmers of empathy would occasionally reappear, so that we’d hope the person we first met was returning, perhaps this time to stay.
Of course, it didn’t last very long, and they were soon back to the cold, calculating and remorseless persona that we so frequently saw. But those glimmers of empathy may have been enough to for us to think that the psychopaths really could change. Deep inside they were caring and empathetic, we thought, and if we could just show them enough love, that person could return.
So no, we weren’t imagining things. We did see empathy. But empathy is not a normal state of being for these people. Empathy is only present when psychopaths are using it to manipulate us.
Opportunity for therapy?
In the video, Dr. Keysers mentions that the finding that psychopaths may, in fact, have the capacity for empathy may provide a direction for therapy. Of course, other research has shown that asking psychopaths to empathize with their victims doesn’t do any good, and may actually make them into more cunning psychopaths.
Lovefraud has heard from several self-identified psychopaths who sneered at the emotions and empathy felt by people who aren’t disordered. Since they view themselves as superior, I don’t know what would motivate psychopaths to develop their capacity for empathy.
But there may be hope for children who are at risk for developing psychopathy, if they can get the right treatment early enough. That would certainly be a step that could benefit not only them, but the human race.
More information
Here’s the original scientific study, which is not easy reading. The “Discussion” section, about halfway through the article, contains the researchers’ conclusions.
Reduced spontaneous but relatively normal deliberate vicarious representations in psychopathy, on Brain.OxfordJournals.org.
Flicka, I was not discounting how very profound the Buddhist teachings are and how the practice and teachings literally saved my life when I was in my early 20’s and still play a central role in my spiritual development. This is a matter of semantics or terminology. I have never found anywhere in Buddhist texts where it says it is important what you call yourself (or that you should call yourself a “Buddhist”). In fact, central to the Buddhist teachings is that there really is no separate self to label in the first place. I believe a person can be deeply spiritual without calling themselves anything. The main message I have gotten from all the Buddhist teachings can be summed up in two words: “Pay attention.” This is another way of saying “Be mindful in everything.”
I feel that rather than sociopaths having the capacity for empathy;they are just really good actors.I know All mankind was created in God’s image,but at some point they use their God-given gift of free will and make a choice.A choice of whether to act as they were created,or to act independently and stubbornly.
My husband knew how he SHOULD act;how he was EXPECTED to act…and he ACTED well…except when at home! Then he ‘let his hair down’so to speak.It must have been a great relief to be himself! Atleast to him…certainly not to me!It always amazed me to watch him in action!If I could have afforded a Charisma Award,I would have awarded it to him!But it hurt my heart to see only others be the beneficiaries of his kind words and acts!
As I am 5 years done with the spath I dated, it really doesn’t matter to me whether he had momentary empathy for me or not. I just know that the behaviors and games were totally intolerable. The fact that sociopaths are capable of empathy at all…..I’m not sure what implications it has. They apparently are “capable” of changing if they can feel empathy. But they don’t see the value in it except as a tool for manipulation. So what difference does it make?
Not being an expert on Buddhism, I merely used the label to communicate that I thought it’s philosophy represents compassion and empthy as I understand it. If the researchers deductions are correct, I’m merely suggesting that it might be interesting to research whether psychosis exists among practicing Buddhists or monks. As Donna suggests, perhaps teaching compassion and empathy would only work on youths displaying psychotic traits. For example, my children were wonderful human beings until they left home and entered a dog-eat-dog society where emotions are shunned. This leads me to question whether modern life doesn’t somehow encourage this affliction.
flicka,
You mention an interesting thought.Because life is such a struggle these days,people are busy thinking about themselves and how “to make it” and how to have “down time” (what is that like?!).Yes,modern life is definitely controlled by and encourages sociopaths!
Flicka, I would never consider myself as an expert on the Buddha’s teachings. I can only speak to my experiences being involved in the practice and community for many years. I have lived the life of a Buddhist monk for weeks and even months at a time in my 20’s, and I almost ordained as a monk at one point, so devoted was I to the practice.
There are different lines of Buddhism and they focus on different qualities. There is a meditation called “metta meditation” which means “loving kindness”. The meditation causes one’s heart to open and it encourages empathy and compassion for all beings. There is also the “Bodhisattva vow” that one can take. The person taking this vow promises that if they were to become enlightened and have no further need for a human body, they would still reincarnate on earth in a human form until all beings become enlightened. The premise of this, of course, is reincarnation, and that when a person dies, they just shed their body but come back in another body to complete their karma. The idea is that when your karma is complete (and you become enlightened), you have no further need to reincarnate into a human body. Does this make sense? I’m not trying to offend anyone with different beliefs. I’m just explaining the Buddhist philosophy as I understand it.
The type of Buddhism I studied is call Theravada Buddhism or “lesser vehicle”. In Mahayana (greater vehicle) Buddhism, there is more focus on rituals and chanting and involvement with community and relationships. In theravada practice, it is about simply being quiet and focusing inward in mindfulness meditation practice. These are the monks who go off into caves to sit in quiet contemplation. The practice is not designed simply to develop compassion. It is to directly touch one’s own experience, to know one’s own nature, to directly experience what is real. What is real is the opposite of what we “think” it is. This is because what our minds “think” is a product of the ego. The ego tells all kinds of stories about who we are and what we are about. This is not reality, in the Buddhist teachings. When one sits in quiet meditation for a period of time, one can observe the ego as if watching a movie. They can disidentify from it, and for periods of time, it can even fall away. We’ve all known people who seemed completely egoless. One of their key traits is compassion. Without many of the mental barriers and defenses we put up, we can often feel another’s pain.
It was very common when I was on long retreat for me to feel the suffering of the person sitting next to me, even though I never spoke with that person or even looked at them. It is also common on retreat when one person starts laughing for the whole room to burst into laughter. This is a form of immediate empathic response. When one is open and not running any ego games or mental babble, this experience of connectedness with others is the default state of existence. What we call the “self” that separates us from others truly does not really exist.
Whether a sociopath can arrive at that state remains to be seen. The sociopath would need to have the capacity for inner directed awareness and introspection. The literature is mixed on whether a sociopath is capable of that. Without that ability, they cannot meditate. And if they cannot meditate, they will spend their time at retreat plotting and scheming how to exploit the other retreatants when the retreat is over.
People with personality disorders have a difficult time meditating because they are busy running their defense mechanisms as a form of their survival. For instance, borderlines will split. However, some borderlines can actually observe their splitting pattern. If they can observe it, they can change it. This is VERY powerful. I don’t know how this works with sociopaths.
Sorry for the long post – I don’t often have the opportunity to discuss my experiences with Buddhist practice. As a final note, I just wanted to say that it is my understanding that ALL of the world’s religions have compassion either as a goal or as a byproduct.
Watch this episode of 48 Hours to get a perfect portrait of a sociopath!
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50154071n
Corinne, Sorry but this video is no longer carried by TWC…my carrier! However, my 40+ years of dealing with 5 of them has taught me a lot. Of course no therapy will be effective unless the psychotic WANTS it and all those I’ve found believe themselves already perfect. As my ex used to say, “you go see a counselor if you feel the need, but I do not need it”!
If I understand correctly, there are two types of empathy: cognitive empathy and affective empathy.
Cognitive empathy is that ability to “read” emotions in others; being able to tell from a person’s facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language whether another person is sad, upset, or happy, or anxious, etc.
Psychopaths (sociopaths, antisocial pds, etc.) seem to have a high degree of cognitive empathy, even to the point of being able to “read” a person’s hidden desires, weaknesses or vulnerabilities. That gives a psychopath a tremendous edge as a predator.
(At the opposite end of the spectrum, those with Autism or Aspergers have great difficulty reading the emotions of others.)
Affective empathy is the ability to experience another’s emotions or feelings with them, as though they are your own, AND wishing to comfort someone who is suffering and help them feel better.
Some people are so sensitive to the feelings of others that just hearing about an injury or seeing a wound on another’s body makes their own body respond with a kind of “sympathy pain”, like the sensation of crawling/shuddering of the flesh on the corresponding part of their own body, or like tearing up when your friend is crying, etc.
I think my own borderline pd/narcissistic pd mother had great cognitive empathy, to the point where it felt to me sometimes like she was reading my mind, but I think she had little if any affective empathy. Mother didn’t really care about my feelings, didn’t respond with compassion when I was hurting, sad, upset, etc. However, she had learned how to say the right things in the right tone of voice in social settings, in public, for the purpose of appearing to be normally empathetic and kindly. Delivering the correct condolences or best wishes in the appropriate tone of voice made it sound like she cared, but I think it was just an act.
Great explanation Babs!
Thanks!
Thanks for your scientific explanation of empathy, Babs. However, I wonder if this isn’t overanlyzed to the point of more confusing psycho-babble? It strikes me that “cognitive empathy” is nothing more than good acting abilities as oppposed to true empathy.I.e. I recall when my son got divorced and my daughter drove 4 hrs. out to spend the weekend with him so “he wouldn’t feel so lonely”. She demonstrated “knowing” how lonely he might be feeling at the time but he was living at the beach in a mansion and that weekend was just another “fun” vacation trip for her. Yet 2 years later, she had no qualms kidnapping her own niece for 10 days during which time, my daughter-in-law became frantic, not knowing where her little 4 year old daughter was. She finally had to call the police to have her returned. My daughter is a very good actress!
Just pondering…
Defining *affective empathy* works for me because it explains that psychopaths really could not care less if you are happy or sad or frightened, unless it benefits them or impacts THEIR AGENDA in some way. They can tell if you are happy or sad, or scared, etc., because they can easily read/intuit emotions in others (cognitive empathy)… they just plain old don’t care about your feelings.
(Unless you are dealing with a sadistic psychopath, a true monster, who actually enjoys your pain. These monsters get a kick out of causing terror and pain and feed off of the anguish of others.)
Psychopaths only care about their own happiness: their own comfort, their own needs, their own ego. Other people are like candy bars to them; something to give them a little sweet taste, and then they’ll go have another candy bar. Other people are just things for them to use, and then discard.
Psychopaths are great mimics: they can ape the *appearance* of compassion, or love, or sincerity, if it furthers their own agenda. But its all fake. Its just an illusion, and its done in order to gain your trust so they can use you more easily.
In fact, Dr. Robert Hare, an expert on psychopathy, said that giving psychotherapy to a psychopath is like sending them to acting school; it just teaches them how to come across as even more sincere and more believable when they mimic compassion, love, caring, remorse, etc. The proof he gave: diagnosed criminal psychopaths who have undergone therapy while in prison have an even higher recidivism rate than diagnosed psychopaths who have not undergone psychotherapy.
The documentary “Psychopath” goes into this. I found it on “YouTube”. Here’s the link to part 1 of 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm1S_n0V5kk&list=PLsfK2kCQzM1-YbzkbwYpq1soc-35Nwxxv&index=1
babs, Love your phrase about other people being merely candy bars to them! So very true and practically described!
Babs,
I really appreciated your explanation of cognitive and affective empathy.
It creeps me out that our emotions can be read so easily by sociopaths…NC rule is all the more important!
I can testify that spath only cared for his own happiness,comfort,needs and agenda!Each time we were apart he suddenly could do for himself the things he had made me do!
Here’s another good video on Narcissism. There seem to be a lot of resources on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7k-q21pJzQ
Thanks; seems NBD, narcissists and phychotics are all interrelated. Wish an expert could differenciate the three categories for me clearly.
I’m not an expert, but there’s a pretty good breakdown and description of all the personality disorders at Wikipedia.
Pds are grouped into three sets: Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C. (Based more on the earlier edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: DSM-IV, instead of the newest edition, DSM-V)
“Cluster B”, the dramatic, erratic group of pds, includes the 4 personality disorders that LoveFraud members encounter a lot: histrionic pd, borderline pd, narcissistic pd, and antisocial pd.
Each personality disorder (in the DSM-IV) has about 9 diagnostic criteria, but a minimum of 5 (any 5 or more) are needed in order for a psychiatrist or psychologist to diagnose an individual patient.
(There is also a set of “general criteria” for personality disorder that must also be present for a formal diagnosis to be made.)
There are overlapping features common to the Cluster B disorders, like “high impulsivity” and “dramatic emotionality”, but each has key, distinguishing features as well:
histrionic pd:
tends to act out sexually and engages in other attention-seeking behaviors.
borderline pd:
features emotional disregulation or mood swings that are much more frequent and intense than even rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Tends to fear abandonment, and tends to assign other people as “all good” or “all bad.”
narcissistic pd:
Tends to be totally self-absorbed. Feels superior to others and therefor entitled to special, deferential treatment. Tends to lack (affective) empathy for others.
antisocial pd:
Tends to disregard rules & laws, and violates the feelings and rights of others. Lacks the capacity to feel remorse for the harm they do. Tends to lie often and easily, and is highly manipulative with the goal of deception for self-gain.
Antisocial pd is just the current term for sociopathy; its the same thing, basically.
Dr. Robert Hare, however, believes that “psychopathy” should be a separate disorder than antisocial pd, and if I understand his reasoning correctly, its because he views psychopathy as the most extreme (most serious, most deadly) version of antisocial pd.
As another member posted, he created the “Hare Psychopathy Checklist” which is a diagnostic tool for psychopathy developed for use in forensic populations (incarcerated criminals.)
Also (if I understand correctly, again) according to Dr. Hare, all those with psychopathy also have narcissistic pd. BUT not all those with narcissistic pd are psychopaths.
So, for a more detailed description and full set of diagnostic criteria for all the pds, check out the “personality disorder” article at Wikipedia.
Thanks for everyone’s information and input. All very helpful and interesting. I have Dr. Hare’s checklist as published in his book “Dangerous Instincts” and I know the danger in lay people trying to apply these traits to people they know.
I personally don’t hold Wikipedia in the same authentification category as other encyclopedias since any lay person can add or alter it’s contents very easily. Many thanks to all who have offered information about what I feel is a growing mental illness in our present-day society. Knowledge never hurts.
You can double-check the information RE the classification and diagnostic criteria for all the personality disorders at BehaveNet:
http://behavenet.com/apa-diagnostic-classification-dsm-iv
or at Counseling Resources:
http://counsellingresource.com/lib/distress/personality-disorder/
or at Out of the Fog:
http://outofthefog.net
But I have bookmarked the Wikipedia article on the Classification of Mental Disorders for handy reference because its so comprehensive, and I like the way its organized: in an overview format (that includes both the ICD-10 and the DSM-IV) with links to each specific disorder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_mental_disorders
How about this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvByEnYE1X8