Psychopathy
in females was historically overlooked and often went unreported because society
promoted the stereotype that women were innately incapable of displaying
psychopathic behaviors. Even today, it is likely that female
psychopaths are underreported because many studies and statistics are drawn from
predominantly male prison populations. While
researchers are somewhat confident that about 1 out of every 100 males is
psychopathic, there is greater uncertainty as to the prevalence among
women. It is inherently more difficult to
ferret out the female psychopath. She is
often less violent and physically destructive, and so is less apt to come to
public attention. Ironically, the
earliest documented use of the term “psychopath” in a legal proceeding was in
St. Petersburg, Russia in 1885 for a woman accused of murdering a child. At the trial, Dr. Balinsky, a psychiatrist, captured
the essence of psychopathic behavior when he said: “[The psychopath] thinks
logically, distinguishes good and evil, and acts according to reason. But of all moral notions he is entirely
devoid.”
For more information ... see Born to Destroy at www.winisbooks.com
