psychopathic personality
A person with a psychopathic personality shows no remorse for their harmful actions.
Noun: A personality disorder characterized by a profound lack of empathy, remorse, or guilt, and a disregard for social norms and the rights of others. Individuals with this condition may exhibit amoral behavior and are capable of committing violent or manipulative acts without experiencing typical emotional consequences. (Note: This term has been largely superseded by more modern clinical terminology.)
The term "psychopathic personality" is primarily used in historical, forensic, or informal contexts to describe a specific cluster of personality traits. * Historical texts often used the diagnosis of a psychopathic personality to explain criminal behavior. * The character in the novel was written as a classic psychopathic personality, charming yet utterly devoid of conscience.
- In Historical Context: The term was a diagnostic label before being replaced. It is important to understand its use within the timeframe of older psychological literature.
- Mid-20th century psychiatry had a different understanding of the psychopathic personality.
- In Forensic Psychology: The concept remains influential in assessing risk and criminal behavior, though modern manuals use different terms.
- The assessment aimed to identify traits historically associated with a psychopathic personality.
- Psychopathy (n): The condition or set of personality traits itself, often used in contemporary clinical and research settings.
- The study focused on the neurobiology of psychopathy.
- Psychopath (n): A person characterized as having a psychopathic personality. This is a non-technical, often pejorative term.
- The film's villain is portrayed as a ruthless psychopath.
- Sociopathic personality (n): An outdated term that emphasized the social aspects of the disorder, which briefly superseded "psychopathic personality."
- Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) (n): The current preferred clinical term in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5, which includes but is not synonymous with the historical construct of psychopathy.
- Antisocial personality (clinical)
- Sociopath (informal/historical)
The meaning of "psychopathic personality" has evolved. Its core historical meaning refers to a specific, severe personality configuration marked by emotional detachment and antisocial behavior. It is crucial to distinguish this historical term from modern diagnostic categories like Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), which has broader criteria. The related term "psychopath" is now considered a non-clinical descriptor.
A person with a psychopathic personality shows no remorse for their harmful actions.
- a personality disorder characterized by amorality and lack of affect; capable of violent acts without guilt feelings (`psychopathic personality' was once widely used but was superseded by `sociopathic personality' to indicate the social aspects of the disorder, but now `antisocial personality disorder' is the preferred term)