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I  would recommend a Google search on the subject of brain scans of psychopaths, as you will see there are distinct differences. In a nut shell, where the activity of a normal person’s brain demonstrates quite a bit of activity in the frontal and temporal regions when he/she experiences empathy, and little activity in the occipital region (the back back of the brain) where logical analysis occurs (which would indicate that empathy [and conscience for that matter] is an automatic visceral response for a normal person, and is not contrived or faked), the psychopath’s brain shows the exact opposite patterns. Though your question references the brains of serial killers (bloody psychopaths), I think it is important to point out that “white collar” psychopaths are much more prevalent, yet their brains would essentially look the same under a color brain imaging scan. So, when I speak on the subject, I tend to focus more on this type of predator’s brain, as this predator is more dangerous,...

The effects of associating with a psychopath vary, depending upon the extent of your association. If you associate casually, then the effects will be experienced in the form of frustration, irritation, or exasperation. However, if your association is more extensive, such as being married to one or having been raised by one, then the effects will much more profound. Given the psychopath’s adept ability at playing mind games, distorting reality, placing their responsibility upon others, using and manipulating another for their own benefit, using and abusing, and even deriving a sadistic sense of satisfaction from knowing they can control another human being with minimal effort, the impact they can have is both profound and lasting. The worst part is the victim (child or spouse) will find it hard to easily identify what is being done to them, the emotional damage they are experiencing, and the extent of the injustice being perpetrated; however, a deep part of them knows the truth and will...

The fundamental difference between a sociopath and a psychopath is their motivation, and the means they employ to obtain what they want. A sociopath is essentially all about sales and personal benefit, while a psychopath is all about self-promotion, power, control, dominance. The sociopath will weigh the benefits vs costs, and will opt for that which will make the most sense in terms of forward movement toward his goals. The psychopath will set his sights on something he deems will benefit him, and begin a strategic plan how best to accomplish the desired outcome. There is little thought to the cost, as he is confident in the outcome, as they will utilize whatever means necessary to ensure a favorable outcome for themselves. Lastly, in terms of the extent to which they will use and manipulate others, a sociopath will do so, as long as it makes sense, ensuring there’s no negative repercussions afterward. If things “unwind,” he will simply cut his losses and move on to the next opportuni...

I recently responded to the above  article  published within the New York Times, written by a woman who's experience within so-called Evangelical Churches has understandably left her to conclude that it is such churches which either turn a blind eye to abuse, or actually promote the conditions which perpetrate emotional abuse, and even worse. It was heartbreaking to read the pain this woman endured, so I felt compelled to address not only her experience, but the issues underlying her experience. The following is what I shared... Sadly, this is the experience of far too many women in churches. It simply speaks to the failure of men to act Biblically, to step up to serve as a protective shield for women being abused. It is the men who are called to step up, to protect, to discern, and to ferret out snakes (Psa. 101:8). As a Christian father, I should be the one my daughter feels safest with to disclose any type of abuse happening in her life. Unfortunately, though I do believe t...

Simply put, you can’t teach a sociopath empathy. Why? Because, sociopathy (along with any other advanced form of selfishness, such as narcissism or psychopathy) ultimately is a matter of the conscience, not a matter of either a lack of intellect, or a lack of awareness. A sociopath is a sociopath because they have intentionally and habitually chosen to repeatedly and consistently value things over people, to put themselves first over the best interest of others, and have dulled their conscience to the point that they experience little guilt over using and manipulating people, and have lost the value of anything but achieving greater personal fulfillment in life via pragmatism over principle. Trying to teach empathy to a sociopath is unfortunately a losing proposition, because the sociopath understands what they are doing, yet simply has no interest in being anything other than a more accomplished sociopath (they would refer to it as sales, business, deal-making, climbing the corporate ...

If someone genuinely lacks empathy, then, yes, they are on the pathway to becoming a sociopath, or possibly a psychopath. Much has been written by good people who’ve done excellent work looking into the brain scans of psychopaths, which shows an irreversibility of the process of psychopathy. However, the burning question is how to make sense of how a person reached the point where they have no empathy ( which will also mean they have little guilt or remorse ). Was it developmental, genetic, environmental… which leads back to the Nature vs. Nurture debate? The challenge such investigators and researchers face is that a brain scan is simply a measure of what is currently happening within the brain, and does not shed light on how the process got underway, and/or how early that began. Having worked extensively and in depth in a forensic capacity within a state prison system for 11+ yrs, and having been recruited to create the nation’s first intensive treatment program for men in long-term ...

During our trainings, one of the challenges we, at Church Protect, face is helping pastors and church-goers with "Misplaced Sympathies," where people are inclined to extend "grace" to the perpetrator, while sending the message to the survivor that she/he should "grow" past the hurt. It is to those with misplaces sympathies (or worse) that we offer insight re. how the Lord, through the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:31, describes just exactly how we are to understand the heart, mind, and permanent character bent and disposition of the pedophile. We previously posted the following, but it is important for us to repeat the following truth, that these uniquely depraved, dark, and twisted predators have reached the point of no return, as they have worked consistently and with focused energy... with eagerness and a diabolical drive... with an ever-increasing appetite for and immersion in warped, dark and deviant pornography... to reach such a deep and all-pervasive st...

If you are wondering whether you are a psychopath, the good news is that you likely are not one. That is because genuine psychopaths have little interest in the topic. But, in the event you want a little more reassurance, here is a quick test: Do you ever sincerely apologize, owning responsibility, and ensuring the other party knows you are sorry? Does it bother you when/if you realize that you negatively impacted someone else? Do you appreciate your conscience, and act to make things right, to clear your conscience, when you know you have done the wrong thing? Do you ensure that others are made whole if you have injured or negatively impacted them? When you remember that someone has been negatively impacted by you, do you ensure you make things right with them? Are healthy and reasonable relationships more important than winning, obtaining the objective, or getting what you feel is yours? Will you inconvenience yourself to help another person, even if there is nothing in it for you? D...

Simply put, a psychopath is someone without a conscience. There are two types of psychopaths: the bloody and the white collar. The former eventually ends up in prison with a few victims, while the latter usually ends up being promoted, having gotten their position in the firm, organization, or position by creating hundreds of victims (usually by stepping on and over them on their way “to the top”), who are either simply too afraid or too exhausted to ever come forward to shed light upon the perpetrator’s behavior… or they are too scared of the inevitable retaliation that would occur. In answer to another question recently asked re. “What is the primary difference between a narcissist, a sociopath, and a psychopath?”, in a nutshell, from my 11+ years doing independent research while serving on the psychology staff in a state prison (6 years of those were primarily spent providing therapy to men within a long-term solitary confinement environment), the narcissist, is all about self. He o...

The easiest way to help anyone understand what emotions a psychopath feels, is to think in terms of a profoundly self-entitled, sophisticated, socially-astute, politically-minded, master emotional manipulator. The psychological terms can blur what has been understood for centuries. There are certain select individuals who are masters at working things in their favor, and will stop at nothing to ensure they get what they want. The more profound they are, it becomes the thrill of the hunt, the enjoyment of watching others squirm, perfecting the slight-of-hand, and watching the look of pain and sadness in the victim’s eyes, more than actually winning. Having said that, the psychopath actually feels a wide range of feelings, all of which emanate from his/her being self-absorbed. They will demonstrate a wide range of emotions, just as with a two-year old. However, the two primary emotions he will never genuinely feel are guilt and empathy, as he/she has over-ridden their conscience for so l...

As it is a little unusual for someone to ask, I am wondering what might be prompting you to ask the question? Not that there is anything wrong with you asking, but it raises what are likely more important issues. My guess is that, given the question, you have had long-standing issues in dealing with your dad, likely generated by behaviors and attitudes he has exhibited over the years? If so, the question would be a reasonable one. However, I find that when anyone asks such a question, there is usually some context that has brought about the question. All terminology aside, the clinical term “psychopath” is simply another way of describing a profoundly selfish and myopic person, who has reached a point over time where they have no interest in changing their selfish, self-entitled, self-absorbed, myopic, hurtful, and, when push comes to shove, mean-spirited and ill-intended ways. Therefore, by removing the mystique of the clinical terminology, it may be easier for you to answer your ques...