The Psychology Podcast 7: "What is it like to be a psychopath?"
18 snips
Jan 18, 2015 
Kent Kiehl, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor, dives into the fascinating world of psychopathy, drawing from his book, 'The Psychopath Whisperer.' He uncovers traits linked to this condition, revealing emotional challenges for those who work with psychopaths. Kiehl discusses how psychopathy intersects with genius and creativity, and explores historical figures and gender differences in behavior. He also highlights brain network function in psychopathy and suggests hopeful treatment avenues for managing this complex personality disorder.
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Autism vs Psychopathy Empathy Deficits
- Autism involves theory of mind deficits, while psychopathy involves lack of empathy despite intact theory of mind.
- Psychopaths have poor emotional intelligence affecting social cooperation and regulation.
Brain Network Differences in Psychopaths
- Psychopaths exhibit impairments in the brain's default mode network, affecting emotional and social processing.
- Their executive functioning may be intact except when emotional limbic circuits are involved.
Psychopaths' Emotional Experience
- Psychopaths experience strong drives for immediate gratification and novelty, but lack rumination or self-reflection.
- They equate love with physical satisfaction and struggle with abstract emotional concepts.
