Abnormal Psychology

598 CHAPTER 13

depend on the setting: Those who are less violent are more likely to be seen in out-

patient settings; those who are more violent are seen in prisons and jails.

Most research on treatment involves people diagnosed with psychopathy, not an-

tisocial personality disorder specifi cally. Some of the personality traits associated with

psychopathy interfere with a therapeutic collaboration: problems in delaying gratifi ca-

tion, lack of empathy, and low frustration tolerance. Psychopathy has a poor prognosis,

and treatments developed thus far are not likely to alter behavior or reduce symp-

toms (Gacono et al., 2001; Rice, Harris, & Cormier, 1992; Serin, 1991). People with

13.7 • Feedback Loops in Action: Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopathy

Figure 13.7g37

Mental Processes and

Mental Contents

Hypervigilance for

threats and

opportunities

to exploit others

Affect

Low frustration

tolerance

Low empathy

Relatively

fearless

Behavior

Punishment less

effective and reward

more important

Difficulty inhibiting

behavior

Stressful Life Events

Poverty

Abuse

Neglect

Genetics

Inherited

tendency for

criminality and

related

temperaments

Neural Communication

NeuroPsychoSocial

Dopamine

Serotonin

Brain Systems

Frontal lobes

Temporal lobes

Hippocampus

Corpus callosum

NeuroPsychoSocial NeuroPsychoSocial

Family

Insecure attachment

For a genetically

vulnerable child,

adoptive parents'

criminality

Gender/Culture

No known major

contribution