Journal of Forensic Psychology

Abstract

Adaptive Psychopathy: The Quarantine Vector and Psychopathy Induction

Stephen Mihailides, Roslyn Galligan and Glen Bates

Defined within evolutionary psychology, the tenets of the State Psychopathy and Directional Vector hypotheses of psychopathy theory (Bates et al.), were tested in an experimental induction designed to rouse survival threat. Territorial incursion, eliciting survival threat, within the Directional Vector hypothesis posits that psychopathic affect is roused, directionally, bounded by a quarantined zone. Theory also posits that processing of normal-range affect, occurring outside the quarantined zone, is relatively unaffected by psychopathic cognition. Hypotheses that i) increases in Symbolic Division would heighten splits on socio-cultural, sexual, affective, and spiritual dimensions between members of one’s own community and invading others, that ii) Objectification would occur so that invading others would be imbued with affect from the psychopathic range; and iii) that Mutual Exclusivity would prevail so that co-existence would seem impossible but instead invading others would be deposed, dominated and destroyed, were all strongly supported. Consistent with predictions of the State-Psychopathy Hypothesis, experimental induction resulted in elevations in state psychopathy levels as measured by Triarchic Psychopathy total scores. The subscales of disinhibition and Meanness but not the Boldness evidenced significant rises in levels post induction. The implication of results is that empathy and psychopathy are not mutually exclusive. Developmental and treatment perspectives are discussed in light of findings, summarized as twin ignition and quell signature genocide autopoietics.