psychopathy

psy·chop·a·thy

P0636300 (sī-kŏp′ə-thē)n.1. A personality disorder characterized by deceitfulness, manipulation, grandiosity, lack of empathy or guilt, and often aggressive or violent behavior. It is sometimes considered a subset of antisocial personality disorder.2. Mental illness. No longer in clinical use.

psychopathy

(saɪˈkɒpəθɪ) n1. (Psychiatry) another name for psychopathic personality2. (Psychiatry) any mental disorder or disease

psy•chop•a•thy

(saɪˈkɒp ə θi)

n., pl. -thies. 1. a character or personality disorder distinguished by chronic amoral or antisocial behavior without feelings of remorse. 2. any mental disease. [1840–50]

psychopathy

a disorder of the mind. — psychopathic, adj.See also: Disease and Illness

a mental disorder. — psychopath, n. — psychopathic, adj.See also: Psychology

Thesaurus

Noun

psychopathy - any disease of the mind; the psychological state of someone who has emotional or behavioral problems serious enough to require psychiatric interventionmental disease, mental illnessmental condition, mental state, psychological condition, psychological state - (psychology) a mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even though the state itself may be dynamic; "a manic state"megalomania - a psychological state characterized by delusions of grandeurinsanity - relatively permanent disorder of the mindpsychosis - any severe mental disorder in which contact with reality is lost or highly distorted

psychopathy

nounSerious mental illness or disorder impairing a person's capacity to function normally and safely:brainsickness, craziness, dementia, derangement, disturbance, insaneness, insanity, lunacy, madness, mental illness, unbalance.Psychiatry: mania.Psychology: aberration, alienation.

Translations

Psychopathy

(pathological personalities, psychopathic constitutions), a group of mental disorders belonging to minor, or borderline, psychiatry, manifested by a disharmonic personality, as a result of which the individual may cause harm to himself or society. There is no clearly defined line between psychopathy and variants of normal personality types. Classifying psychopathies as mental diseases is arbitrary: unlike diseases that develop in a regular way (onset, course, outcome), psychopathies are stable and lifelong—although the degree to which the pathological traits are manifested may vary—and are usually not associated with delirium, hallucinations, or other symptoms of marked impairment of mental activity. Psychopathies are caused by hereditary factors, intrauterine injuries to the fetus, birth traumas, infections and poisonings in infancy, improper upbringing, and negative social influences.

The manifestations of psychopathies are varied. Several clinical types are distinguished according to the particular personality traits that are dominant. For example, asthenic (impotent) psychopaths are highly impressionable, excitable, and easily fatigued. They tolerate physical and mental stress poorly and are indecisive and depressed. Psychasthenic psychopaths are extremely suspicious; they are filled with perpetual doubts as to the correctness of their judgments and actions and are incapable of making decisions. Excitable (explosive) psychopaths have extremely strong emotional reactions and are unrestrained and inclined to aggressive actions. They have drives and are often addicted to alcohol, which markedly intensifies the manifestation of pathological traits. Paranoic psychopaths are inclined to develop exaggerated ideas that dominate all their impressions and emotions; whatever is not in conformity with these ideas is ignored. Paranoic personalities include pathologically jealous and litigious persons and fanatics. Hysterical psychopaths tend to indulge in fantasies, which, as it were, substitute as reality for them. The behavior of hysterical psychopaths is characterized by affectation and theatricality. There are also other types of psychopathies. Conditions similar to psychopathies may result from schizophrenia and organic brain disease.

Psychopathies can be prevented and treated by proper upbringing in childhood and the constant corrective influence of the family, school, and fellow workers. Psychotherapy and psychotropic agents are indicated in decompensation of psychopathies and in situations where psychopathies make day-to-day living difficult.

REFERENCES

Gannushkin, P. B. Klinika psikhopatii: Ikh statika, dinamika, sistematika. Moscow, 1933.
Kerbikov, O. V. “K ucheniiu o dinamike psikhopatii.” In Izbr. trudy. Moscow, 1971. Pages 163–87.
Leonhard, K. Normale und abnorme Pers ö nlichkeiten. Berlin, 1964.

M. I. FOT’IANOV

psychopathy

[si-kop´ah-the] older term for a mental disorder, sometimes specifically antisocial personality disorder. adj., psychopath´ic.

psy·chop·a·thy

(sī-kop'ă-thē), An older and inexact term referring to a pattern of antisocial or manipulative behavior engaged in by a psychopath.
See also: personality disorder. [psycho- + G. pathos, disease]

psychopathy

(sī-kŏp′ə-thē)n.1. A personality disorder characterized by deceitfulness, manipulation, grandiosity, lack of empathy or guilt, and often aggressive or violent behavior. It is sometimes considered a subset of antisocial personality disorder.2. Mental illness. No longer in clinical use.

psychopathy

Antisocial personality disorder, see there.

psychopathy

Related to psychopathy: antisocial personality disorder

noun

Synonyms for psychopathy

noun serious mental illness or disorder impairing a person's capacity to function normally and safely

Synonyms

brainsickness
craziness
dementia
derangement
disturbance
insaneness
insanity
lunacy
madness
mental illness
unbalance
mania
aberration
alienation

Synonyms for psychopathy

noun any disease of the mind

Synonyms

mental disease
mental illness

Related Words

mental condition
mental state
psychological condition
psychological state
megalomania
insanity
psychosis