Psychopath: n. A person with an antisocial personality disorder (APD), manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy.
“Social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and empathy, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or remorse.” (BARTOL, ANNE & CURT)
There are three general types of psychopath; the primary psychopath, secondary psychopath, and the dissocial psychopath.
PRIMARY PSYCHOPATH:
The primary psychopath is the only “true” psychopath. They have certain identifiable psychological, emotional, cognitive, and biological aspects about them that distinguish them from the general and criminal populations.
SECONDARY PSYCHOPATH:
These people commit anti-social and violent acts due to emotional disturbances and inner conflicts. They are often referred to as “acting-out neurotics,” “neurotic delinquents,” “symptomatic psychopaths,” and “emotionally disturbed offenders.”
The media has displayed this type of psychopath as the ever-popular “psychopathic killer,” such as in American Psycho, and in the popular television show Dexter. However, this is not how most true psychopathic serial-murderers are. They are usually primary psychopaths.
DISSOCIAL PSYCHOPATH:
These types generally display aggressive and anti-social behavior that they have “learned” from sub-cultures (e.g. gangs, families).
The high recidivism rates in these types often get them incorrectly labeled as psychopaths, but these people are not truly psychopaths, they are merely troubled, and often emotionally repressive beings.
An Example of a Psychopath:
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr., the “Great Impostor”-
Ferdinand forged documents, and went through dozens of occupations without first getting a high-school diploma. He is a fantastic example of a primary psychopath. He frequently came in contact with the law, majorly because he was constantly adopting new identities.
He once got the credentials of “Dr. French,” who had a Harvard PhD in psychology. He was in the US Navy at the time, listed under even more forged documents and a fake name. He once realized he was going to get caught, due to a routine security check, and faked his own suicide, leaving his clothes at the end of a pier with a note stating “this is the only way out.” The Navy officials accepted his “death,” and Demara was free to become Dr. French. With his impressive, forged credentials, he succeeded in getting a job at a Canadian college as the Dean of Philosophy, and taught a variety of psychology courses, later obtaining administrative responsibilities.
While he was teaching at this Canadian college, he befriended Joseph Cyr, a physician. Through Cyr, Demara learned the basics of medicine via their long and incredibly detailed conversations. Eventually, he borrowed and copied all of Cyr’s personal documents—birth, baptism, confirmation certificates, school records, medical license—then obtained a job from the Royal Canadian Navy as Dr. Cyr. He read extensive amounts of medical books to extend his knowledge of medicine.
During the Korean War, “Dr. Cyr” was assigned to a destroyer headed into combat. The ship met a small boat carrying many seriously wounded men. Three of the men needed emergency surgery to save them. Demara had never seen an operation performed, but he still skimmed through his text books, and went to work. He operated through the night, saving the men, and successfully treating sixteen other people.
“Dr. Cyr’s” accomplishments were greatly appreciated, and Demara’s photo was printed in the news, along with the name “Dr. Cyr,” and an article about his accomplishments. The real Dr. Cyr caught wind of this, and immediately revealed Demara, and removed him from the Navy. However, the Navy refused to take any further embarrassment, and would not press charges.
