Psychopathy Facts

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  not a synonym for violence or crime.

  Psychopathy does increase the risk for violence and criminal behavior. But in many people psychopathy leads mostly to less serious behaviors, such as manipulation, lying, stealing, and bullying.

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  the most expensive mental health condition in existence,

  costing the criminal justice system an estimated $460 billion annually. Every $1 invested in treating psychopathy saves over $7.

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  a major risk factor for gun violence.

  Children with psychopathic traits are over four times more likely than other children to use a gun during a crime. Investing in better treatment options for psychopathy will reduce gun violence.

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  a major risk factor for bullying.

  Bullies are over twice as likely to have psychopathic traits as children who don’t bully. Children with psychopathic traits are more likely to become bullies even if they were never bullied themselves. Investing in better treatment options for psychopathy will reduce bullying.

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  a common mental disorder.

  It is more common than schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or anorexia. But, unlike these disorders, psychopathy receives almost no federal research funding. Such funding is needed to identify mechanisms, preventions and treatments.

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  something a person has, not something a person is.

  Psychopathy is a mental disorder, like depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It is not a disorder a person chooses to have. And symptoms can improve with treatment.

• 
  Psychopathy Is...

  very difficult to detect.

  Unlike many other serious mental disorders, psychopathy can be invisible to observers. People with psychopathy often present a “mask” of normalcy despite their serious emotional and behavioral disturbances. There are no cues that reliably signal that someone has psychopathy.