Understanding the Causes of Psychopathic Development

What Causes Someone to Develop a Psychopathic Personality?

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers at Vanderbilt University have shed light on the neurological mechanisms that may underlie the behaviour of psychopaths. The study, led by Joshua Buckholtz and co-authored by David Zald, delves into the reward-seeking behaviour of individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits.

The research commenced with volunteers being administered a personality test to determine their level of psychopathic traits. The results revealed a strong correlation between these traits and the individuals' propensity towards violent and criminal behaviour.

The second phase of the experiment saw volunteers being told they would receive a monetary reward for completing a simple task, while their brains were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The data collected suggested that individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits had an unusually strong attraction to rewards, a finding that overpowered any concerns about the potential risks associated with their actions.

David Zald, an associate professor of psychology and psychiatry, commented on the data, stating, "The data suggests that something might be happening on the other side of things. These individuals appear to have such a strong draw to reward—the carrot—that it overwhelms the sense of risk or concern about the stick."

To further examine the relationship between dopamine and psychopathy, the researchers employed positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain to measure dopamine release, in conjunction with an fMRI probe of the brain's reward system. The findings revealed that volunteers with high levels of psychopathic traits had almost four times the amount of dopamine released in response to amphetamine.

Moreover, the dopamine reward area of the brain, the nucleus accumbens, was significantly more active in individuals with elevated psychopathic traits while they were anticipating the monetary reward. This hyper-reactive dopamine reward system, according to Joshua Buckholtz, a graduate student in the department of psychology and lead author of the new study, may be the foundation for some of the most problematic behaviours associated with psychopathy, such as violent crime, recidivism, and substance abuse.

It is important to note that psychopathic traits are not exclusive to violent criminals. Normally functioning individuals can also exhibit these traits, which include manipulativeness, egocentricity, aggression, and risk-taking. Psychopathic traits exist on a spectrum, with violent criminals falling at the extreme end.

Once psychopaths focus on the prospect of a reward, they may become unable to alter their attention until they obtain what they desire. This new research provides valuable insights into what psychopaths have in abundance - impulsivity, heightened attraction to rewards, and risk-taking.

In conclusion, this study offers a compelling glimpse into the neurological basis of psychopathy, providing essential insights into the behaviour of individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits. The findings suggest that the brains of psychopaths are wired to seek rewards at any cost, a trait that may contribute to the problematic behaviours associated with psychopathy.