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ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATHS (FROM CORRECTIONAL CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT - A READER, 1975, BY LEONARD J HIPPCHEN-SEE NCJ 32007)

NCJ Number
49122
Author(s)
D SILVERMAN
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC TRACINGS OF 100 PSYCHOPATHIC INMATES ARE REPORTED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS IN THE SAMPLE WERE TAKEN FROM INMATES ADMITTED TO THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS, WHO HAD A DIAGNOSIS OF CONSTITUTIONAL PSYCHOPATHIC INFERIORITY WITHOUT PSYCHOSIS. THE AGES VARIED FROM 16 TO 43 YEARS. THEIR INTELLIGENCE FOLLOWED THE DISTRIBUTION CURVE OF THE AVERAGE CIVILIAN POPULATION. OF THE 100 SUBJECTS STUDIED WITH THE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH, 79 PERCENT WERE DISCOVERED TO HAVE ABNORMAL OR BORDERLINE ABNORMAL TRACINGS. CITING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT THAT ROOT PSYCHOPATHY IN ORGANIC AND PSYCHOGENIC FACTORS ORIGINATING IN THE TRAUMATA OF CHILDHOOD, THE AUTHOR PROPOSES A RECONCILIATION OF THESE VIEWS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT IN MANY PSYCHOPATHS A CONGENITAL CEREBRAL DYSFUNCTION INCREASES THE SENSITIVITY TO THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMATA OF CHILDHOOD. UNSTABLE REACTIONS TO THESE TRAUMATA AND THE INABILITY TO INTEGRATE NEW EXPERIENCES INTO THE GROWING PERSONALITY THEN FURTHERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOPATHIC MODES OF BEHAVIOR. SEE NCJ 32007.

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