EMOTIONAL VAMPIRESDr. Dorothy McCoy

2007

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are patterns of perceiving, reacting, and relating to other people and events that are relatively inflexible and that impair a person's ability to function socially.

Personality Disorders

People with a personality disorder are rigid and tend to respond inappropriately to problems, to the point that relationships with family members, friends, and coworkers are affected. These maladaptive responses usually begin in adolescence or early adulthood and do not change over time.

Psychopaths Are Not Insane or Crazy

Personality DisordersCluster B

Are those defined by dramatic, emotional behavior including histrionic , narcissistic, anti-social, and borderline personality disorders

Psychopaths Are Not Our Friends

In 2002, psychologist Stephen Porter, interviewed 125 men who were serving time in prison for murder. The 34 men with high scores on a psychopathy test gave him a surprise. Despite many investigators' assumption that psychopathic criminals lack self-control and often act impulsively, most of the psychopathic killers had planned the ruthless, cold-blooded murders that they had committed.

Sociopaths or Anti-Socials

Sociopathy refers to criminal attitudes and behaviors viewed as normal in certain groups, such as street gangs. Sociopaths have a sense of right and wrong that is based on the values of their criminal group.

Psychopaths Can Plan

One psychopathic offender murdered his ex-girlfriend to stop her from interfering with his new relationship. Another psychopathic inmate arranged and committed the murder of his wife to cash in her life insurance policy.

Sociopaths May Simply React

In contrast, a large majority of the non-psychopathic prisoners had killed someone in the heat of the moment or upon reaching an emotional breaking point.

Without a Conscience

One writer called psychopaths “soulless beings”They can be charming, sexy, intelligent, successful, highly educated, fun, witty and charismatic

Occupations for the Psychopath

Minister Physician Law enforcement officer College professor CEO Any career that allows access to victims

Not Nice Folks

Blair's theory fits with previous observations that psychopaths have difficulty learning to avoid punishments, show weak physiological responses to threats, and don't often recognize sadness or fear in others

Neuroscientist R.J.R. Blair of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

It Starts Early

Psychologist Paul J. Frick of the University of New Orleans recalls a boy who was recently referred to the mental health clinic where Frick works. The 10-year-old had trapped a cat and killed it by slowly slicing it with a knife. The youngster calmly explained to Frick that he wanted to see how much he could cut the animal before it died.

Thrill Seeking, Sadistic Psychopaths

Among psychopaths who kill, a thrill-seeking temperament and sadistic interests form a toxic brew, Porter says. Famous sexual murderers such as Ted Bundy and Albert DeSalvo, who was known as the Boston Strangler, targeted a wide array of victims to fend off boredom, he says.

Picture of a Psycho?

The First Psychopathic Serial Killer?

This Is the Face of a Psycho

Do I Know a Psychopath?

They are manipulative They lack specific goals They have superficial relations with

people They are impulsive They are irresponsible They crave power and prestige They lack empathy They lack remorse

Do I Know a Psychopath?

They lie easily They have predatory instincts They are cool under pressure They seek excitement and thrills They take credit for the work of others They fly into rages

They Are Out There!Says Dr. Robert Hare

"I don't see any difference between the people I meet in prison and those in business," he added.

So should we be running for the hills? You have been warned

Don’t Become a Victim

False Pairing Pick up on weaknesses Look your part Watch the boundaries In God we trust, check everyone else

through NCIC Calm under pressure Misspeak Show a peek of the real person

Half of the Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty are Killed by a Psychopath

Be Careful Out There