Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Psychopathy Profile Scale In Statement Analysis

C.K. Dexte-Haven's shameless grandiose posting of pictures of himself 

In Statement Analysis, we uncover a natural profile when people speak about themselves, and in the interview process, we seek deep understanding of a person's character.

This is useful in many applications, ranging from criminal investigations to employment interviews. 

As an example:  In murder cases where the subject knew the victim, we often find the word "talk" as the conversations between the killer and the victim are important, and we note especially where "talk" changes to "spoke" within the statement.  (remember, this is a subject's recollection of "What happened?" posed to him, preferably, to be written first, before the interview. 

Another example is that successful salesmen and women are sometimes viewed as indifferent or cold as they push for a sale.  In an employment interview, a Human Resources expert might recognize certain characteristics may result in a trade off:

A strong salesman hired, but one who is likely to not last more than 2 years, as interpersonal discord between him and co-workers may develop.  The HR professional can then decide if the strong sales versus discord trade off will be worth it or not. 

More than a few people respond to this 'checklist' with, "Oh no!  I married a sociopathic personality!"

The scoring should be viewed, therefore, cautiously.  In future articles, we will look at elements of these personalities within language.  


1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.
note: this may include deceptive sounding exaggerations of accomplishments or character.

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
note:  they can also be lazy in that they consider themselves smarter than others, who are 'wasting' away in hard work.    
4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING -- can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
Please note, in particular, one who is deceptive (or outright lying) when there is no apparent need or provocation.  This is called "unnecessary deception" and is indicative of one who has learned from childhood the elements of deceptive speech in order to survive.  ph

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.
This is purposeful deception in which priority (self) is evident in context.  
6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT -- a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one's victims.

This is why we make a distinction between a "confession" and an "admission."

An admission is to acknowledge what was done, often due to being caught, whereas a confession not only acknowledges what has been done, but addresses the issue of moral, ethical or legal failure of what he has done.  


7. SHALLOW AFFECT -- emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
We sometimes see this in words that appear to be emphatic (see number 8) but actually are the words of another; sometimes a spouse or close friend.  
8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY -- a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.
This may include quoting or parroting others, even from television, movies, books, etc, which appear genuine, but are not.  Sometimes those closest to the sociopathic personality recognize the words as their own.  "He said how he does not want to hurt someone in a way in which they cry inward tears.  Inward tears!  Those are my words, not his!"

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE -- an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.
See Proverbs 26:14 in which the lazy finds fault in the diligent, and often has an opinion of himself that is not shared by the industrious.  (self deception)

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.

11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
 -- a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.
In Statement Analysis we look for references to water, coverings, doors opening/closing, lights on/off, windows up/down. 
12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS -- 

a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.

13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS --

 an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.

14. IMPULSIVITY -- the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY -- repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.

This is sometimes seen in passivity in language.  

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS -- a failure to accept responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.

17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS -- a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY -- behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE -- a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY -- a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.


SCORING

     0 – Does not apply
1-      Sometimes
2-      Very much


Score of 30:  psychopathic behavior

Average citizen:  5  (no criminal activity in life)

Average prison population:  22



Wise As a Serpent; Gentle As a Dove: Dealing With Deception

2 comments:

Nic said...

What statement analysis has taught me: you can't avoid a liar, at best you just spot them sooner. I have also learned that there are a lot of liars in my midst! Even if I can't pin point something per se, I go with my intuition and navigate by/around potentially toxic "friendships".

Even as recently as this summer I was duped by a very good liar. When you are a stay-at-home mom, like I am, it is not uncommon to have 'fake friends' who are expert at hijacking your time. Be it to pick up the slack for two working parents, i.e., being the go-to for drives to and from activities I have signed up my kids for and which they purposely choose for their kids so that they can impose upon me in the name of "you're going there anyway" - which has inevitable turned into "free daycare" an hour here and there, to 'picking my pocket' to bankroll their altruistic endeavors that involve traveling to exotic destinations which also includes picking up the slack for the other parent staying behind who now has to be mother/father/chief bottle washer, taxi, etc.

My biggest worry for my kids these days is that they end up someplace they are not suppose to be because of a friend's need to lie to be away from their parent's prying and controlling parenting style (their ability play my kid's loyalty to the hilt and manipulating them into 'lying' for them.) This situation has recently happened to a friend's daughter - different school/neighbourhood.

Recently one specific girl I know had a sleepover at another friend's house and she stole five make-up brushes, a lipstick and a mascara. She lied about taking them but then once her mother got involved she coughed up "3" brushes and took a pic of them and sent the picture to her "friend" to show her that she had "only 3" brushes. The victim's mom asked me why would she only admit to three brushes and send "Emma" a picture of them? I said because technically she wasn't lying about taking five brushes, a lipstick and mascara. She only had **3** brushes so she wasn't lying - and which she returned via the mailbox when she knew they wouldn't be home. The pic taunting "Emma" that the others were now hers. A few years ago, this same girl tried to steal an expensive bracelet from my daughter (I caught her trying to walk out of our house with it hidden under her coat sleeve). Since then anything valuable gets locked away when (they) come and boundaries to bedrooms are respected. Her brother gleefully burned me with his sparkler one Canada Day. I was lighting a circle of kids' sparklers, he reached through the circle and purposely burned my hand. He was eerily 'happy" to witness my shock and pain. He laughed thinking I wouldn't challenge him. My son was really upset. I sent my son and others off and firmly held the fire bug by his shoulders and accused him of burning me on purpose. I informed him that he might be able to get away with that sh!t with his parents, but that if he ever tried to burn me or anyone in my backyard again, he and his family would be asked to leave immediately and he would not be welcomed back. Ever. His sister (the Kleptomaniac) has bouts of pure rage that her mother admitted to. The mother manipulates people with her orchestrated 'friendliness' so as to keep her kids socialized/in the fold. I believe in my heart that these two kids (a product of a lying mother and an indifferent father) are sociopaths or psychopaths in the making. I could go on and on. Suffice to say I'm glad we moved and now live "too far" for it to be convenient to be called upon to "pick up the slack".

Nic said...

Re-reading this list is so enlightening. I can easily associate someone I know in my direct vicinity to more than one of these. (The people who leave me feeling the most frustrated and taken advantage of.) My son was befriended by a guy at his school. He has MD (duchenne) and appx. five years left to live. I know I sound callous when I say his mom is really good at playing the heart strings. I had an uncomfortable run-in with her in the summertime and she hasn't called on me since.

I'm wondering if this is a tactic that [they] try with everyone i.e., prospecting "suckers", or if is a personality trait they easily spot and capitalize on.