Psychopathy is a developmental disorder characterized by amoral and antisocial behavior. The individual exhibits salient emotional deficits that are usually manifested by their lack of or reduced empathy and inability to feel guilt or remorse. The individuals also have difficulty or show little interest in establishing and maintaining meaningful social relationships, are egocentric, and often do not learn from their behaviors and experiences (Patrick, 2018). The four predominant causes are genetic, environmental, cognitive, and developmental influences. According to James Fallon, a neuroscientist, psychopathy is often as a result of a combination of more than one of the influences. Nevertheless, the environmental influences and nurturing of an individual have a profound effect on the development and sustenance of psychopathic tendencies. In order to find a better way of treating the disorder, it is vital to understand all the influences developing psychopathy and the nature of the roles they play.
Genetic Influences
Behavioral research is pivotal in elucidating hereditary roles in the development of antisocial behavior. Compellingly, evidence suggests that more than 40% of psychopathy cases are attributed to genetic influences (Fox et al., 2019). Since psychopathy is known to be caused by several elements, the existence of more than one gene in causing it is valid. A research study on genetic roles in causing this disorder has indicated that the genetic cause of psychopathy is related to a specific gene, the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) that is also known as the warrior gene (Fox et al., 2019). MAOA negatively affects the synthesis of protein used in the disintegration of brain-signaling chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. These chemicals are known to influence a person's mood , and their lack of proper integration indicates impassiveness.
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Individuals with this gene have a lessened production of proteins to break down the brain-signaling chemicals, and as a result, there is a build-up of the neurochemicals. According to Fox et al. (2019), such a build-up is what causes impulsive behavior, violent tendencies, mood swings, and sleep disorders. James Fallon is a neuroscientist who has been studying the brains of violent criminals and murderers and noted the existence of MAOA in the cerebral cells
(Fallon, 2014). He observed a striking similarity of their brain composition to his, which implied that he could also be a psychopath. He did possess this gene, and his general brain structure was by far similar to that of his research participants. Nevertheless, he did not display any violent tendencies, and the only psychopathic attribute he had was a lack of empathy. It is, therefore, difficult to draw conclusions of the association of psychopathy with this gene alone. Fallon (2014) noted that a huge role was played by environmental influences as there are people possessing the gene but lacking vivid symptoms.
Other genes also associated with this disorder include DRD2, COMT, ANKK1, 5-HTTLPR, and DRD4. Giuseppe Novelli, a geneticist and forensic scientist in Rome's Tor Vergata University, explains how hard it is to know the protective effects and genome functions in all these genes (Fox et al., 2019). A combination of alleles located at three loci (minimum) is necessary for an elevated risk of being psychopathic. Such chances are very mild, and also require environmental influences to complement their development.
Environmental Influences
A PCL: SV was used in a London study of males aged between 8 and 48 to determine the factors that would score ten or more towards the age of 48. Notably, the factors that exhibited dominance in this checklist included low involvement or absence of a father in the development of a boy, physical neglect, growing up in a disrupted family, low family income, and having a convicted parent (Frick & Marse, 2018). Other key factors included harsh discipline, poor supervision, delinquent sibling, large family size, poor housing, low social class, depressed mother, and a young mother below 25 years of age. All these facets provide an extensive view of the roles external influences play in developing this order.
Studies indicate that psychopathy problem will normally be described as a personality disorder as it is ever-present from early childhood as opposed to other mental illnesses that may occur later in life (Frick & Marse, 2018). This belief hugely underscores the role genetics play in the conception and development of psychopathy. For this reason, it is hard to understand the full extent of environmental influences as causative elements. However, a scientific study in Irvine School of Medicine relates environmental factors and genetic factors in a manner to suggest that the scope of environmental influences extend to the genes causing psychopathy (Frick & Marse, 2018). The MAOA gene exhibited varying effects in individuals who grew up in different environments. The brain's development is a reflection of the environment in which it is nurtured in. If it is exposed to a harsh environment, it reacts harshly, and if it is exposed to a normal environment, it reacts normally. A 2002 study conducted in the US on a group of males in the course of their life reported that those who were maltreated or abused as they grew up tended to exhibit violent behaviors (Frick & Marse, 2018). It is worth mentioning that the participants all contained the MAOA gene, but the difference in their characters was dependent on the environment they were brought up in.
Cognitive Influences
Cognitive is a term used to refer to all activities and computations performed by the brain, which involve the general processes of perceiving, knowing, judgment, memory, reasoning, etc. Cognitive influences mostly affect the way psychopaths approach life in general and how they perceive their environment. Most of them feel victimized, and this is enough reason to victimize others, in what they regard as a societal norm (Frick & Marse, 2018). This belief presents a cognitive limitation, and their actions will not be based on rational choices. And since there is a variation in the severity of this disorder, the schema and contents of beliefs of psychopaths vary proportionately.
Most psychopaths care less about what other people think of them and are only satisfied with what they think of themselves. They describe themselves as autonomous and loners, which further boosts their antisocial nature and have them develop a negative feeling towards normal people (Frick & Marse, 2018). Additionally, they perceive normal people as being exploitative, which they use to justify their exploitative retaliation. This retrogressive thinking handicaps their moral compass and thought process and only seek to exacerbate the disorder.
Developmental Influences
As much as psychopathy is a disorder associated with most adults due to socialization factors, it develops from childhood all through to adulthood, experiencing different stages that influence its growth. Behaviors present in youth is also evident in adults and vice versa. The impacts only develop to the extreme in adults as they take a toll on youth. Certain traits are socially adaptive, whereas others are picked up in the developmental life of an individual (Patrick, 2018). Peer relationships also contribute to the development of psychopathic traits, as most psychopaths tend to develop low-quality relationships with their stable peers that result in conflicts and little support. Future problems might also stem from the biased perspectives that psychopathic youths have vis-à-vis their interactions with their peers. Regressive hereditary dispositions also play a role in the development of psychopathy (Patrick, 2018). When a narcissistic parent raises a child, the child borrows the same mentality and grow up knowing that the only way to get what they want is by being manipulative.
The Significant Influence
Psychopathy is ascribed to several causative influences that include genetic, environmental, cognitive, and developmental. However, despite the vastness of causes, an individual's environment and nurture play a significant role in the development of psychopathy. This assertion delineates environmental influences to be the most significant factor due to their active role in the development of major psychopathic traits. People born with psychopathic genes such as MAOA can act normal if exposed to the right environment (Wong et al., 2016). On the other hand, homo emphaticus individuals can develop psychopathic tendencies when exposed to the same setting with psychopaths.
In conclusion, psychopathy, in its severity, is capable of causing complete indifference that might result in individuals committing wrongful acts unknowingly. It is a favorable fact that this disorder can be stopped by curbing some of the influences that lead to its existence. Notably, despite there being several influences of psychopathy, the disorder strives in an environment that normalizes it. It is further noted from Fallon's research that vital traits associated with offending strived in a psychopathic habitat. By understanding the significant role the environment plays in developing psychopathy, then efforts towards curbing the disorder should be directed in fostering an atmosphere that vehemently undermines it.
References
Fallon, J. (2014). The psychopath inside: A neuroscientist's personal journey into the dark side of the brain . Current.
Fox, B., & DeLisi, M. (2019). Psychopathic killers: A meta-analytic review of the psychopathy-homicide nexus. Aggression and Violent Behavior , 44, 67-79.
Frick, P. J., & Marsee, M. A. (2018). Psychopathy and developmental pathways to antisocial behavior in youth. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of psychopathy (p. 456–475). The Guilford Press.
Patrick, C. J. (Ed.). (2018). Handbook of psychopathy. Guilford Publications . 2 nd Ed.
Wong, S. C., & Olver, M. E. (2016). Risk reduction treatment of psychopathy and applications to mentally disordered offenders. Violence in Psychiatry , 323-331.
