http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2008/06/not-all-psychopaths-are-criminal.html
In this article, it explains that it is fairly normal and usual for “psychopaths” to be near us and not criminals. There was a study done with 100 university students in which they had to complete a self-report measure of psychopathy and the results were that some of them did have similar results to what an actual psychopathic criminal would score. So what does this mean? What do these results mean? It was said that although these non-criminals have similar neuropsychological profiles as the criminals, it is probably because of their background such as family. I believe that family is really important with the way one person grows up. If one person who took this self-report measure had results to being psychopathic but the person was raised in a very loving family, the chances are that he/she would not go on a killing spree. However, if the person were to grow up with a father who was convicted in killing the mother, then the chances are higher when it comes to commiting a crime and following the father’s footsteps. I honestly feel like everyone is like ticking time bomb and everyone is just anticipating that one thing that would tick them off. We talked in class that sometimes these psychopaths commit these horrible crimes, yet in the end, the sentencing is lessened and they are the ones treated as the victim than the actual victim. Is it fair? Is that justice? From an outsider’s point of view, I guess the answer is “yes” because the psychopath wasn’t capable of controlling his/her actions, but if the victim was someone I love or even myself, I would say that this was outrageous.
Its a common assumption to make that all psychopaths are or will be criminals. Solely because society has made people think that way. If people do not like the way a person behaves they automatically get put into a category of difference. And then in those categories we define what level of danger they are. Depending on what label is given society has a different response or judgement they have for that person. There are lesser and harsher sicknesses creating a sense of who is more dangerous. Even though all these people are guilty of are being different or subjected to being seen as being different. Yes some medical sicknesses are reasonable behind the brain and actions a person does but not all people are going to reach that state. And saying people who have a abnormality is same as a criminal then, society has a already too broad of a definition of what is a sickness and what is a criminal. You can not just blame a disease to be reasoning behind a criminal action or vice versa. It is the same thing as saying a child of color growing up in an urban area is more likely or is going to commit a crime due to where he or she grew up and race of that child. Making certain relations to why and not target the actual reasoning behind certain crimes is why there are labels to who might be a criminal.