Deck 18: Psychopathy and Sadism

Question 1

A "con" method of approach is an example of what psychopathic characteristics?
a. Criminal versatility
b. Glib
c. Remorse
d. Conning/Manipulative

Answer 1

Conning/Manipulative

Question 2

Which of the following is not a psychopathic characteristic offered in Hare's Psychopathy Checklist---Revised?
a. Poor behavioral controls
b. Forethought
c. Criminal versatility
d. Failure to accept responsibility for actions

Answer 2

Forethought

Question 3

The presence of one or more psychopathic characteristics is proof of psychopathy.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A psychopath refers to a social predator diagnosed with psychopathy.

Question 5

Psychopathy is influenced by which of the following factors?
a. Psychological factors
b. Biological factors
c. Early life experiences
d. All of the above

Question 6

Why should criminal profilers be concerned with psychopathy and sadism?
a. They are often qualified to evaluate and diagnose criminal offenders
b. They are often qualified to treat criminal offenders
c. Psychopathy and sadism are behaviorally determined
d. All of the above

Question 7

An offender who apologizes or cries in front of the victim during or immediately after the commission of an offense evidences what characteristics?
a. Impulsivity
b. Empathy
c. Remorse
d. All of the above

Question 8

Sociopaths evidence the same behavioral manifestations and traits as psychopaths.

Question 9

Which of the following must be present in a sadistic offense?
a. Intention
b. Victim suffering
c. Offender sexual gratification or arousal
d. All of the above

Question 10

The earlier the victim is killed in an offense, the less likely that there would have been an opportunity for sadistic behavior.

Question 11

Psychopathic behavior consists on a continuum.

Question 12

How many psychopathic characteristics does Hare offer in the Psychopathy Checklist---Revised?
a. 10
b. 15
c. 20
d. 25

Question 13

A rapist lays down a coat or a blanket for the victim at an outdoor crime scene. This behavior evidences what characteristics?
a. Remorse
b. Reassurance
c. Impulsivity
d. Empathy

Question 14

is a condition characterized by persistent disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood.
a. Psychopathy
b. Sadism
c. Sociopathy
d. Antisocial personality disorder

Question 15

Motivations of criminal psychopaths differ from the motivations of other, non-psychopathic criminals.

Question 16

What are the 2 key features of psychopathy?
a. Remorse and empathy
b. Lack of remorse and empathy
c. Remorse and lack of empathy
d. Lack of remorse and lack of empathy

Question 17

The term sadistic is not consistently applied within the literature by investigators, criminologists, or those in the treatment community.

Question 18

An offender who exaggerates past accomplishments or current reputations evidences what psychopathic characteristics?
a. Conning/Manipulative
b. Glib
c. Grandiose sense of self-worth
d. All of the above

Question 19

Which of the following is true regarding Antisocial Personality Disorder ASDP) and psychopathy?
a. Most psychopaths meet the criteria for ASPD
b. Most individuals with ASPD are psychopaths
c. ASPD is uncommon in criminal populations
d. All of the above

Question 20

All sadistic offenses can also be considered lustmurders.

Question 21

Any act of anal assault evidences a sadistic motivation.

Question 22

Postmortem necrophilic or mutilation behaviors evidence a sadistic motivation.

Question 23

Case Study
?Sadism refers to the intentional infliction of psychological or physical suffering on a conscious victim, able to experience pain or humiliation, for the purpose of the offender's sexual gratification. The definition can be broken down into 3 components:
i. The intentional infliction of psychological or physical suffering on a conscious victim who is able to experience pain and/or humiliation.
ii. The infliction of such suffering over a period of time, to support an inference that the suffering was inflicted intentionally and that the offender was sexually aroused by it.
iii. The association of the intentional infliction of suffering with the offender's sexual arousal or gratification.
Review the following case and answer the question below.
Burgess et al. 1978, p. 16) present the case of "Paul," a single white19-year-old male who was convicted of four rapes but later admitted to more than 20. According to his account, he would typically select an innocent-looking girl, around the age of 12, and force her into the woods with a knife. He further related the following:
Then I'd give her a choice: I would rape her or cut off her hair. I'd tie her hands behind her back with my belt, put the point of my knife between her eyes, and threaten to kill her. Then I'd get undressed and make her lick my body and blow me because I knew she wouldn't want to do it. I'd get all shaky and excited. I would keep her scared and frightened-her fear and suffering gave me pleasure. Sometimes while the girl was blowing me I'd burn her with a cigarette on her shoulder and ass and "come off" in her mouth, sometimes I would punch her and stomp on her hand with my workboots.
… Even now when I think about a girl getting beat up, or see it on television, I get a "hard-on."
Is this an example of a sadistic offense? Justify your reasoning.

Question 24

Define psychopathy. List and explain 3 psychopathic characteristics found in Hare's Psychopathy Checklist---Revised.

Question 25

Explain the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?