Why does someone become a psychopath? How does your mind work?

ILLUSTRATES Andre Toma

Why do some people become psychopaths?

Science and psychiatry still don’t have a definitive solution. But case studies reveal some patterns in the life and behavior of someone suffering from this disorder.

Infancy: Children who suffer some kind of trauma or are treated coldly tend to have a high self-preservation instinct and have difficulty developing empathy for others.

Self-justifications: Not every unhappy child becomes a murderer. The process to form a psychopath begins when the individual creates a series of ways out or justifications for their actions, generating excuses for more violent behavior.

Isolation from society: Future psychopaths don’t learn, and sometimes fail to identify, social conventions and behaviors – basically, they only care about their own needs.

Selfishness: The psychopath is unable to put himself in the other’s shoes – in a situation of suffering, for example, he remains cold and apathetic.

Denial: Even if you don’t feel anything when you harm someone, denial of facts is the main convincing tool used by psychopaths when they are pressured by others.

Non-violent demonstrations: Most people who become psychopaths do not take the path of violence. They can understand the consequences of their actions and don’t actually hurt anyone physically – they «just» exploit others for their own benefit.

How does the mind, logic and reasoning of a violent psychopath work?

Psychopaths who take the path of crime tend to repeat a series of patterns, also observed by forensic psychiatrists in most cases studied. The process can scale slowly – over months or even years

Costumes: Before a violent act, the psychopath fantasizes about the process of stalking, capturing and attacking. He thinks about the victim’s response and his own reaction.

Persecution: The psychopath chooses a target, based on some obsession formed by childhood trauma. He begins to watch and learn the habits of his future victim and makes fantasies begin to be considered as reality.

Roleplaying: The future victim under surveillance becomes an integral part of the psychopath’s initial fantasy. The “rehearsals” are growing and increasing the possibility of an act of violence.

Attack: The psychopath turns his fantasy into reality and has the pleasure of being the protagonist of all the actions and sensations that he could only imagine before.

Memoirs: It is common for the psychopath to “collect” one or more objects that belong to the victim, helping him to relive repeatedly what happened during the attack. These souvenirs can be anything from jewelry to a body part.

Cycle Decrease: In most cases, the interval between phases decreases with time. During new attacks, the killer tries to perfect his method to “enjoy” more.

CONSULTANCY Dr. Paul Britton, clinical and forensic consultant, professor at the University of Coventry, England

SOURCE Book DSM-IV – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; American Pyschiatric Association; and program Dangerous People with Severe Personality Disorder