Are psychopaths really brain-damaged or is that just a facile excuse?

Answer 1

Psychopaths have very abnormal brain functions, severely impairing many of the processes that normal people take so for granted.

One of the problems with anything wrong with one's central nervous system is that if it's severe and pervasive enough, it can interfere with the autonomic and peripheral nervous systems as well.

In psychopaths, such maladies as what was once called neurasthenia (a state of unnatural sedation) or epilepsy (seizure disorders) are far more frequent than in the general population. Many people who are not psychopaths have some of the more than 100 forms of peripheral neuropathy, but some of these may be more common in psychopaths.

The autonomic nervous system, which prepares the body for emergencies (fight-or-flight) is erratic and inefficient in a psychopath, which can, in some situations, lead to fatal accidents; human beings have adrenaline for a reason, and the sympathetic nervous system of a true psychopath is sluggish and cannot sustain arousal for long. (In Borderline Personality Disorder, the problem is the opposite: the sympathetic nervous system responds too easily, too strongly, and way too often!)

Aside from this is the fact that a true psychopath has an extremely peculiar brainwave pattern: while awake, their brain waves most resemble a hybrid of normal waking brain waves and alpha-level sleep waves. And they often tend to sleep deeply.

Emotionally, they are cold, detached, distant, and yet deeply resentful of normal people.

They know they're missing something, and often spend most of their typically short, tragic lives avenging themselves on others for having what they themselves cannot ever enjoy.

So they are not truly emotionless, but they do not love, do not know true joy, and are hostile and destructive.

This ISN'T the work of the Devil; it's Nature gone horribly awry. ANYTHING THAT CAN DAMAGE THE DEVELOPING NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN A FETUS OR VERY YOUNG CHILD CAN CAUSE OR SEVERELY EXACERBATE THIS CONDITION.

Answer 2

Some studies suggest that there may be brain differences in individuals with psychopathic traits, such as differences in areas related to empathy and decision-making. However, it is important to note that not all individuals with psychopathic traits have brain damage, and there are likely complex interactions between genetics, environment, and behavior that contribute to the development of psychopathy.