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Abstract
A Functional-contextual Approach to Psychopathy: Cases Analysis. This paper proposes a functional interpretation of psychopathic behavior as an alternative to formal attempts to explain this rare, complex and, dangerous pattern of behaviors. First of all, the contextual-functional approach is briefly summarized. In second place, four well-known historical cases of psychopathy are briefly described and analyzed. Accordingly to a functional approach, the key issues that are emphasized are the contingencies occurring in the personal histories of such individuals as well as the derived transformation of functions that established such rare and dangerous pattern of behavior regulation. A brief analysis is made of the cognitive and emotional characteristics traditionally predicated as exclusive of psychopathy (as lack of empathy, emotional responsiveness, impulsivity, the need of power, etcetera) that sets the stage for an interpretative analysis about the conditions that might be involved in the emergence and expansion of the behaviors typically categorized with the psychopathic label. This analysis focuses on the personal history and describes the confluence of conditions to form thoughts/beliefs about oneself and the others, that establish as dominant reinforcers such as immediate pleasure and escaping aversive funtions as well as power without limits. This analysis might indicate that the exceptionality of psychopathy migth lie on the occurrence of very extreme specific and unusual conditions but in the absence of those conditions that might prevent the building of repertoires as those described in psychopathy. Accordingly this functional-contextual interpretation characterizes psychopaths persons not as having relevant differences in their brains to explain their behavior as well as not having difficulties for the formation of adaptive cognitive functioning and behavior regulation. Conversely, this analysis is focused in unusual and exceptional extreme personal history with conditions to develop some behaviors and not to develop others.
Key words: contextual psychology, psychopathy, serial killers, cases analysis.
How to cite this paper: Visdómine-Lozano JC, Gil-Luciano B y Roales-Nieto JG (2019). Aproximación contextual-funcional a la psicopatía: análisis de casos. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 19, 2, 141-161.
La búsqueda de una explicación racional de la "psicopatía" ha ocupado un buen número de monografías desde finales del siglo XIX, si bien ha sido en los siglos XX y XXI cuando el fenómeno ha adquirido dimensiones desbordantes y ha concitado el...