Recent research from the American Psychological Association indicates that some socially appropriate psychopaths have empathy; In other words, those who have been classified as psychopaths and are not involved in criminal activities can demonstrate highly adaptive abilities in the general population.
Therefore, let us leave the controversy as the term “psychopath” that still generates in most psychologists and we will focus on the coexistence of absolutely opposite traits in these individuals. This is where research in the field of psychopathy is divided into two areas.
- It is claimed that.
- By default.
- Psychopathy cannot include any form of adaptive trait.
- Meanwhile.
- The other side argues that adaptive traits can be found.
- To some extent.
- In psychopathic individuals.
Several tools have been developed to study psychopathic traits based on these two points of view, and there is a lot of divergence between the results; of all the studies done, the most complete is that of Guillaume Durand, entitled The Effects of Psychopathic Traits on Fear of Pain, Anxiety and Stress. An innovative point of view that explains how society-appropriate psychopaths manage their emotions.
Researchers in the study The effects of psychopathic characteristics on fear of pain, anxiety and stress subjected 529 participants to a series of psychological tests that measured psychopathy, fear of pain, anxiety and stress.
They use a test that seeks two different types of psychopathy: dominance and impulsive antisocial behavior, the former is associated with boldness and courage, while the latter is associated with selfishness, guilt and impulsivity.
Researchers found that people with high scores in measuring dominance tend to be less afraid of pain, anxiety and stress, while those who scored high in impulsive antisocial behavior showed higher levels of anxiety and stress.
The study suggests that the media definition of psychopathy (private mass murderer of any form of morality) is far from the truth. Although these people exist, of course, there are others that have more adaptive than inappropriate traits, which makes them perfectly functional in society.
The results on psychopathic traits and the relationship to fear, stress and anxiety can be very different depending on the model used (with or without adaptive traits). Psychopathy is usually diagnosed by a test known as Hare’s revised psychopathy list. inappropriate behaviors and traits.
The objective of this study was to examine the discrepancy in the results in the field of psychopathy, where the adaptive characteristics of the questionnaire were negatively correlated with fear of pain, anxiety and stress, while otherwise encountered inappropriate characteristics.
To solve this problem, Guillaume Durand created the Adaptive Psychopathic Traits Questionnaire (Durand, 2017; Personality Assessment Magazine), which exclusively evaluates adaptive psychopathic traits. The use of this instrument in individuals considered highly psychopathic will allow researchers to clearly distinguish adapted and inappropriate psychopaths. .
Empathy, while serving altruism, is also a tool for the Machiavellian mind, which needs good information to evaluate and potentially take advantage of others.
Psychopathy can serve the common good. This is the case, for example, of situations that require action, such as those faced by rescuers, health professionals, soldiers and others in high-risk situations, where emotions can dissipate and open up to a cold and simplified calculation.
Mihailides, Galligan and Bates (2017) call it “adaptive psychopathy”, which describes the “quarantine vector” in which empathetic information corresponds to useful psychopathic mental processes. This occurs, for example, to address threats that conflict with their own values and values. Beliefs.
Empathy occurs in two forms: cognitive level and emotional level. They are independent of each other, but they also tend to work together. Cognitive empathy is the ability to see things from the other person’s point of view. Affective is the ability to vibrate with the emotions of others. Cognitive empathy is stronger in narcissism, while emotional empathy seems weaker.
Traits transmitted by adapted psychopaths have an evolutionary advantage; otherwise, they wouldn’t be as common as they are.
People who may exhibit psychopathic thinking sometimes have an advantage. They can be essential to the survival of the community, providing an uninhibited contingent, more aggressive, able to concentrate and get the job done. It’s an extremely delicate balance.
Adapted psychopaths have a greater ability to understand the motivation of others. They should assist in decision-making, retaining the ability to choose when to participate and when not to participate. Different groups of individuals can provide brakes and counterweights to maintain a dynamically adapted community. .
Greater empathy associated with dark traits can preserve the quality of the relationship, i. e. the dubious traits of adapted psychopaths are sometimes ignored because they show a degree of empathy, if they did not present it, they would not be welcome in the group. .