Research Proposal - Psychopathy: Curing and Treatment

This research proposal aims to determine whether a cure exists for psychopathy, if psychopathic people can understand and analyze their own behavior, and how to detect psychopathic behavior in loved ones. The proposal includes a literature review, methods of data collection, and ethical considerations.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL – PSYCHOPATHY
Research Proposal – Psychopathy
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
Psychopathy is a dangerous medical condition that is considered to be quite dominant in
people who engage in criminal behavior. Some of the well-known characteristics of a psychopath
include the lack of remorse and empathy and a calm and composed demeanor. Psychopaths are
considered to be anti-social by virtue of the fact that whatever they do goes against the norms
and standards of society. This assignment prepares a research proposal on the subject of curing
and treatment the condition of psychopathy. The proposal outlines the research objectives and
questions, presents a brief review of literature on this subject, mentions the rationale for the
research, states the methods of data collection and mentions in conclusion the ethical
considerations that need to be adhered to when doing this research.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................2
1.1. Research Objectives..........................................................................................................2
1.2. Research Questions...........................................................................................................3
2. Review of Literature – Theoretical and Epistemological Perspectives....................................3
2.1. Psychopathy as an Untreatable Condition........................................................................3
2.2. Risk Reduction Treatment as an Effective Cure for Psychopathy....................................4
2.3. Violence Reduction Treatment as an Effective Cure for Psychopathy – Using the 2
Component Model based on 2-Factor conceptualization of Psychopathy...................................4
2.4. Risk Assessment and Psychopathy – The Intrinsic Relationship.....................................5
2.5. Treatment of Adult and Juvenile Psychopathy.................................................................5
2.6. Gaps in the Literature Review/Rationale for the Research...............................................6
3. Methods of Data Collection.....................................................................................................6
4. List of Ethical Considerations..................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................8

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1. Introduction
Till date, there is no certain cure that exists for the mental condition of psychopathy. The
term psychopathy is used to describe a mental disorder, the characteristics of which include
social isolation, an impaired sense of empathy, lack of remorse and understanding and
egotistical, bold and disinhibited traits. Psychopathy as a mental illness is often considered to be
synonymous with the condition of sociopathy. While no psychological or psychiatric
organization has managed to sanction any diagnosis that is titled as psychopathy, the assessments
of the characteristics of psychopathic people are used quite widely in the criminal justice settings
of certain countries while holding important consequences for certain individuals. Psychopathy
constitutes an active field for study and research. This is also a term that is used quite widely in
fictional portrayals, popular press and by the general public. Although psychopathy is employed
more often than not in common usage with terms such as mentally ill, crazy and insane, a
distinction is seen to exist between psychopathy and psychosis as it is seen to exist in today’s day
and age. This assignment prepares a research proposal with the primary aim of the research being
to understand whether a cure exists or not for the condition of psychopathy. The proposal
mentions the research objectives, aims and questions, present’s a brief review of existing
literature on the subject matter, states the gaps in the literature and the rationale for the research,
mentions the methods of data collection and data analysis to be used for the study and concludes
by listing the ethical considerations that will be adhered to when undertaking this research
project.
1.1. Research Objectives
 To determine whether or not there exists a cure for psychopathic

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 To determine whether psychopathic people are capable of understanding, analyzing and
evaluating their own behavior
 To identify the ways and means by which people can detect traits of psychopathic
behavior in their loved ones.
1.2. Research Questions
 Does a cure exist for psychopathic people?
 Can psychopathic people understand, analyze and evaluate their own behavior?
 What are the ways and means by which people can detect traits of psychopathic
behavior in their loved ones?
2. Review of Literature – Theoretical and Epistemological Perspectives
2.1. Psychopathy as an Untreatable Condition
Vitale (2018) has conducted research on the many different ways by which psychopaths can
be treated and assessed. According to Vitale (2018), the psychopath is a person who is
characterized by a very limited number of experiences and affective experiences to be precise.
Such a person, in the view of Vitale (2018) is seen to act more often than not in an impulsive and
anti-social manner, but also appears to be quite calm and at ease with himself or herself when in
the presence of other people. It is argued by Vitale (2018) that on the basis of early and negative
conceptualizations, which have been strengthened by numerous documented treatment failures a
psychopathic individual has been described as a person who is untreatable. It is further argued by
Vitale (2018) that there are specific forms of treatment that are seen to impact individuals who
are psychopathic in a positive manner, but the duration and extent of such benefits remains yet
quite unclear. Vitale (2018) concludes with the argument that responses generated by people who

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are psychopathic, to the treatment need to be collected and specific interventions that are targeted
to this group of people must be systematically developed as well as tested. This is because in
spite of some advances having been made, the field on the whole continues to remain in the early
stages of its development and growth is something that is urgently required.
2.2. Risk Reduction Treatment as an Effective Cure for Psychopathy
Wong and Olver (2015) have researched on risk reduction treatment concerning psychopathy
and the manner by which this treatment can be applied to offenders who have mental disorders.
It is the argument of Wong and Olver (2015) that therapeutic nihilism on the treatment of
psychopathy is something that is quite widespread and it is also something that is based largely
on poorly designed and outdated data. An in-depth analysis and review has been carried out by
the researchers on the various forms of risk reduction treatment that are developed and applied to
people who exhibit psychopathic traits with the additional aim of the project being to extend this
research to treatment for people who are law offenders and who have mental disorders such as
schizophrenia, psychopathy and violence.
2.3. Violence Reduction Treatment as an Effective Cure for Psychopathy –
Using the 2 Component Model based on 2-Factor conceptualization of
Psychopathy
Wong et al. (2017) have undertaken research on violence reduction treatment that is carried
out on psychopathic individuals. In the view of Wong et al. (2017) psychopathy treatment is one
that is characterized by quite a challenging historical past. Wong et al. (2017) argue that
treatment attrition as well as disruptions that are associated with factor 1 personality traits
connected to psychopathy are those that need to be managed with care in order to ensure

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integrity in treatment. The researchers propose what may be termed as a 2 component model that
is based on 2-factor psychopathy conceptualization that will serve as a framework for guiding
violence reduction treatment for people who are psychopathic. Psychopathy treatment literature
has been reviewed by the authors and major treatment approaches have been compared and
contrasted after which the 2 component model has been discussed with reference to the way by
which this can be applied to diverse psychopathy subgroups.
2.4. Risk Assessment and Psychopathy – The Intrinsic Relationship
Olver et al. (2018) have studied the co-relation between risk assessment and the condition of
psychopathy. It is the argument of the researchers that with the establishment of a forensic
community, there are now risk assessment tools that practitioners and scholars can make use of
in addition to treatment models as well as an extensive range of literature for treating different
types of clientele, including clients who appear to be highly challenging in their behavior and
who are quite recalcitrant in their approach to any kind of treatment, something that is quite
common among people who suffer from psychopathic disorders. Olver et al. (2018) argue that
the pessimism that was associated with the treatment of psychopathic individuals for the longest
span of time is now giving way to a good deal of positivism concerning the treatment of people
who are considered psychopathic.
2.5. Treatment of Adult and Juvenile Psychopathy
Polaschek and Skeem (2018) have researched on how juveniles and adults who are
psychopathic can be treated in a suitable manner. They argue that while the treatments that are
deployed on adult psychopaths tend to vary quite a bit from the type of treatment that is applied
on a juvenile delinquent, there is no definite or conclusive evidence on whether such treatment is

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actually capable of bringing about a reduction in criminal behavior and recommend that further
research be carried out to cover this gap.
2.6. Gaps in the Literature Review/Rationale for the Research
While the existing literature on the subject of psychopathy including the research
reviewed above, talks about the various ways by which psychopathy as a medical condition can
be treated, there is no definite answer provided by this research on a cure for the psychopathic
condition or the ways by which psychopathic individuals can assess or analyze their own
behavior. Further research needs to be carried out to see if a definite cure for psychopathy does
exist, whether psychopaths can understand and analyze their own behavior or not and to uncover
the ways and means by which people can detect if their loved ones are psychopathic or not,
something that this research proposed to do.
3. Methods of Data Collection
The research will entail the use of both primary and secondary research methods. Primary
data will be acquired qualitatively by interviewing personnel and patients at mental health
institutions. The forms of data collection will include in-depth personal interviews and focus
group discussions. Data will also be collected from a variety of secondary sources of literature
on the subject of psychopathy. Examples include but are not limited to articles in peer reviewed
journals, book chapters in edited volumes and books in addition to reports and policy
statements published by the WHO and other international bodies on the subject.
4. List of Ethical Considerations
 Participation by respondents will be strictly voluntary in nature.

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 Respondents will be briefed about the aim and the scope of the research and what value
their answers are going to serve
 Personal details and other information divulged by the respondents will be kept strictly
confidential
 Patients at mental health institutions who exhibit signs of psychopathy will be
interviewed only after prior and authorized permission is secured for this purpose and if
consent is provided also by the patients themselves.

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References
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. (2018). Psychopathy and risk assessment. In Routledge
International Handbook of Psychopathy and Crime (pp. 665-683). Routledge
Polaschek, D. L., & Skeem, J. L. (2018). Treatment of adults and juveniles with
psychopathy. Handbook of psychopathy, 710-731
Vitale, J. (2018). Assessing and Treating Psychopaths. In The Practice of Correctional
Psychology (pp. 173-196). Springer, Cham.
Wong, S. C., & Olver, M. E. (2015). Risk reduction treatment of psychopathy and applications to
mentally disordered offenders. CNS spectrums, 20(3), 303-310
Wong, S. C., Stockdale, K. C., & Olver, M. E. (2017). Violence Reduction Treatment of
Psychopathy. The Wiley Handbook of Violence and Aggression, 1-14.