Why do psychopaths go after what they want regardless of the negative consequences they may experience? According to the journal Nature Neuroscience, the answer may be chemical—an overactive dopamine reward system.
Read Driven toward reward without regard for consequence on Time.com.
Read the scientific study, Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits, in Nature Neuroscience.
Link submitted by a Lovefraud reader via Facebook.
Our Family Wizard can help you co-parent with a sociopath
Donna,
Thanks for posting this. I wrote something about this in Marcia’s thread, questioning if their ‘chemical’ feedback systems might be contributory toward the disorder. I just watched two discs of ‘This Emotional Life’ that was produced for public broadcasting, and learned some really amazing scientific information about how our emotions are generated by our biology. So of course that got me to thinking…..
I am fascinated by this approach to understanding why we feel as each of us do, and how this then effects our behavior and relationships to and in the world.
Thank-you for posting such a wide variety of information!
I read both articles. Found the first one very interesting, the second was written in too scientific language for me…I would need it broken down to truely understand it.
How does this relate to seritonin levels in the brain, depression, and self-medicating? Does anyone know? Dr. Leedom?
From what I undersand, some drug abuses actually lead to reduced levels of seritonin…does this create a viscious cycle?
And certainly all addicts are not psychopaths. Right?
Thanks for this, Donna. It goes a long way in explaining my X’s addiction, impulsivity, fearlessness, and failure to predicts consequences.
Yikes, if this is actually true then it is not their fault…??? eh not ready to hear that, I still hold the fantasy they are bad people who need to be punished, but day by day I realise this is just denial…..so where to now?
Bulletproof,
Just as a rattle snake is not a “bad snake that needs to be punished” but you still do NOT WANT TO TAKE IT HOME AND MAKE IT A PET. It is still a dangerous creature, and was born that way cause it’s parents were both that way (i.e. it got the “rattle snakes” gene ) so, no it isn’t the fault of the rattle snake it was born a rattle snake instead of a king snake, but you know, I still don’t want to play with one, and I am not going to start a campaign to release all the rattle snakes that are in the zoos into a gradeschool classroom either, just because it “wasn’t their fault they were born that way” and so they have as much right to have children pick them for pets as birds and cats and dogs and gerbils do.
Alcoholics have a gene or two that make them more prone to drink to excess, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the CHOICE to STOP drinking, because they do. I don’t “buy” it that if you have a gene then you have no choice, cause I think you do. I also don’t buy that continuing bad behavior is given a “pass” if it “isn’t your fault!!!!” YOUR choices are always your CHOICES.
OxDrover
They have choices (but lets face it they are not showing signs as a group of wanting to change..)
alcoholics are horrified at what they have done when they get help, as do drug addicts etc. they have raw moments of regret and make amends
snakes are beautiful …they do not go out and torture their loved ones, they kill to eat….thats about it.
I am beginning to realise is…PSYCHOPATHS FEED ON REWARD SYSTEMS enabling them to naturally bypass everything in the way of that reward. Their choice is to ~GET THE REWARD!
So we need to define what the reward system is….recognise it, refuse to feed it and WE MAKE THE CHOICE…forget waiting on the reptilian brain, get conscious and say no..NO To FEEDING PSYCHOS and there should be a test out there so you can determine if you are a psychopath feeder. The responsibility has to be with us….because PSYCOPATHS ARE REALLY STUPID when it comes to taking responsibility..
I hear ya bulletproof. I posted something earlier in the week about wishing I could come up with a spray spath repellant, cause if we could repell them, they wouldn’t feed on us and eventually they would starve to death.
interesting, the study isn’t showing the entire picture. There are a lot of dopamine ‘junkies’ out there, dopamine is released during sex, doing drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, even food. High dopamine levels are linked to psychosis. This article is saying sociopaths get a ‘high’ from what they do but it does not explain why they feel no remorse nor feel empathy nor do they feel nor understand fear or jealousy. They don’t chose to ignore these emotions because they prefer the high they do not have them nor do they understand them.
Ox Drover, You have been strangly quite the past couple of days. You okay? I miss you. What’s up?
Are you enjoying Spring-like weather in your garden? Are you off on a joy ride on Fat-ass or Hairy? Are you practicing martial arts with your skillet?
Oxy…come-out, come-out where-ever you are….
Hello all
From what I know of these types, the betrayel or ‘getting one over’ another person is a reward in itself. I strongly beleive my ex gets a ‘hit’ or a ‘fix’ off the act of betrayel. Sad but true.
I will go off and read the articles now lol
Sorry to cut and paste but I think this person’s comment is especially insightful and thoughtprovoking! (After that the comments just turn into a sh*tfight):
The study implies they can feel the remorse, but the drive for the next fix/rush/pleasure is so strong, remorseful feelings are quickly disregarded in the pursuit of more pleasure.
I can totally relate. I care for the poor suffering animals in slaughter factories….but apparently not enough to do anything about it. I want to go vegan, but when I crave burgers and fried chicken…somehow I just don’t care as much. I’m aware of my guilt, but the cravings are just too strong. I felt the same way when I did drugs. Chasing passions and pleasures are way more fun than caring about the suffering of other beings.
Perhaps I’m just a bad person. Perhaps we all have a little psychopath in us. Maybe it just depends on what we’re addicted to. If it’s sex or feeling control over others…watch out. Perhaps it’s all about the ability to filter out all potent desires. The more we become like robots, the easier it is to be civilized. Perhaps we just need to be reprogrammed like robots so we’ll feel nothing, want nothing, then we’ll harm no one.