I recently found out that a psychopath cannot plea insanity in court because a psychopath is not viewed as being insane. Why aren't they insane?
2007-05-13 11:42:00 · 8 answers · asked by Daisy M 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
definition of insane---does not know difference between right and wrong
definition of psychopath---does not care
2007-05-13 11:45:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
ok. I'm studying family med. not psych,but here's the short and sweet of it. People who are considered insane, are not rational. They either have severely impaired judgment or none at all. So, in a court setting if someone was insane, the ideas is that they could not legally be responsible, because they don't have the ability to deceiver between right and wrong.
However, a "psychopath" (not what they call them anymore), is cold and calculated. Psychopaths are the types of people that aren't just immoral... they are amoral. This means that they don't have remorse or feeling for others. They could for example kill someone in the same way you might swat a fly. They aren't insane, they know what they are doing. They are in control of their mental capacities, but don't have the ability to feel for others. They have an extremely egocentric way of thinking. One professor told a story about a guy who killed two kids and then he sat down and ate their lunches... Also, a little girl who kept killing little animals for fun.
2007-05-13 11:55:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A psychopath knows what he is doing is wrong but put's his needs/desires before the victim or society. They are crazy like a fox. Ted Bundy killed numerous women and girls by luring them to his car. He knew he was going to kill them. He would go home and give his girlfriend a present. At the same time Ted was a well known well respected person in political circles. His colleages were behind him until he confessed. They still didn't believe it.
2007-05-13 11:47:53 · answer #3 · answered by dtwladyhawk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a VERY interesting question...I have not heard that before, ... I have this information:......http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p020452.html Now, the question is, I thought that they were both the same? Some people have called the psychopath an insane person...although Jeffery Dahmer, for instance, clearly in my book, was out of his mind. Anyone who could drug people, chop them up, eat them, etc. although sounding soft spoken, etc....could not possibly have been in his right mind,...I believe he was the epitomy of evil...possessed by a demon...I wish you would post where you read this? thanks
2007-05-13 11:53:48 · answer #4 · answered by MotherKittyKat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychopaths know right from wrong because society tells them it's right/wrong. They fully understand what they are doing is wrong, they simply lack the emotional attachment to feel 'bad' about it.
In order to plead insanity for your actions you have to be, at least temporarily, unable to understand that your actions are wrong.
2007-05-13 11:48:55 · answer #5 · answered by mist_dark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they know the difference between right and wrong. Their violence has a purpose, and their violence is meant to harm others. Someone who is insane, doesn't or is unable to tell the diffrence between right and wrong.
2007-05-13 11:48:01 · answer #6 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Noooo, what makes them insane now? Could it be why most psyc houses are called insane asylums? Ill let u figure that out.
2016-05-17 09:10:54 · answer #7 · answered by linette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They know reality from non-reality. They know "right" from "wrong". They know that when they are caught they will be punished.
Many criminals are psychopaths.They have bad brains for whatever reason, but they are not legally insane.
2007-05-13 11:45:31 · answer #8 · answered by ignoramus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋