Why Do Psychopaths Do What They Do?

"Typical of many of our psychopathic subjects, when asked why she committed crimes, a female in one of our studies replied, 'You want the truth? Just for the fun of it.'"

"I often say, small clues can lead to big revelations. It has become a mantra in my life. When I apply it to my own early childhood situations, it reveals much about what motivates the psychopath. I can recall a special moment when I was at the library with my mother, choosing books that I wanted to read. My mother had asked me what kind of stories I like. I told her stories with happy endings. My mother rummaged through the library bookshelves and picked up The Ugly Duckling. My mother, who did not read to me often, decided to read me that story when we arrived home. While listening to her singsong voice, I was troubled when she told me that I was the ugly duckling. "Will I grow up to be the beautiful swan?" I asked. I looked into my mother's face and saw a blank stare as I waited for more comforting words. But none came. This insidious silence betrayed her desire to torment me emotionally."

Some psychopaths commit crimes purely for amusement, saying "Just for the fun of it." Psychopaths lack loyalty to groups, codes, or principles and prioritize self-interest above all else. A psychopathic parent can lower moral and social standards, violate laws and ethics, and treat family members as objects. Small behavioral clues in childhood can reveal underlying psychopathic motives. Early episodes of emotional neglect and deliberate torment, such as calling a child "the ugly duckling" with a blank stare, illustrate callousness and intentional emotional cruelty without empathy or comforting response.

Read at Psychology Today