The Born-Again Psychopath

Typically, we associate the term "psychopath" with the term "serial killer" - and rightly so as many serial killers are indeed, psychopaths. Lesser known is the fact that psychopaths are far more common in society than one would expect. It's true. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that approximately one percent of the US population is psychopathic, indicating the presence of some three million "moral monsters" among "normal" United States citizens.

Since some of the dominant personality traits indicating psychopathy (pronounced sai-KOP-uh-thee) are grandiose sense of self-worth, ruthlessness, superficial charm, lack of remorse and the manipulation of others - it is easy to begin to understand that this is not a rare malady (think corporate CEOs, domineering world leaders, celebrities, etc.).  In truth, some corporate banking firms actually seek out upper management candidates who demonstrate psychopathic behavior in hopes that these aggressive attributes will give their banking business a competitive edge (and now, in the wake of the corporate banking crisis, the wisdom of hiring managers that generally don't care about what happens to others is being revisited).

It is noteworthy that psychopathy should not be confused with psychosis, which is mental illness that can be successfully treated to varying degrees. There is no known cure for psychopathic behavior traits as they are physically hardwired within the brain. Characterized by a profound lack of empathy for anyone or anything - psychopathy is perhaps best described by Robert Hare, global expert and psychologist as "emotional deafness". This is why psychopathic killers are especially dangerous, being wholly incapable of relating to the feelings of their victims.

So, how would one assess whether a person is psychopathic or not? Why, there is a test! Created by the previously mentioned Dr. Robert Hare, the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist, Revised) has become the gold standard for diagnosing psychopathic behavior.  Assessing this behavior obviously involves evaluation extending well beyond the Psychopathy Checklist - but here it is:

Facet 1 - Interpersonal

• Glibness/Superficial charm
• Grandiose sense of self-worth
• Pathological lying
• Cunning/Manipulative

Facet 2 - Affective

• Lack of remorse or guilt
• Emotionally shallow
• Callous/Lack of empathy
• Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

Facet 3 - Lifestyle

• Need for stimulation/Proneness to boredom
• Parasitic lifestyle
• Lack of realistic, long-term goals
• Impulsiveness
• Irresponsibility

Facet 4 - Antisocial

• Poor behavioral controls
• Juvenile delinquency
• Revocation of conditional release (Huh?)
• Criminal versatility

 Other Indicators

• Highly manipulative
• Many short-term marital relationships
• Promiscuous behavior          

Hmmm... So, there it is. Whom do the above characteristics describe? Do you know this person?  Are you this person? Is it your boss, your college professor, your pastor (not that I suspect my pastor), or perhaps that grumpy guy behind the counter at the post office?  It's interesting to think about. And, who knew there was a checklist?

Some postulate that the Apostle Paul may have been a psychopath. Before Paul had a life- changing experience in the presence of Christ, he operated under his given name, Saul (of Tarsus). Paul was obsessed with the practice of seeking out and capturing Christians under authority of the Jewish high priest for the pupose of imprisonment and/or sentence of death. This was a task that Paul (then Saul) performed with particular zeal. He was absolutely consumed in the pursuit of rooting out and destroying Christianity wherever it could be uncovered.

We are introduced to Paul in the biblical account of the stoning of Stephen (which Paul approved). Acts 8:3 states "... Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison." Also, consider Acts 9:1&2; "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters (search warrants) to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way (Christianity), whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem." But, after an encounter with Jesus Christ, Paul the now born-again "psychopath" became radically changed, causing people to exclaim in astonishment, "Isn't this the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name (Jesus). And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Then it continues; "Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ".

So, seriously - was Paul a psychopath? Obviously we can never know this and though it is doubtful, we just don't have enough information concerning the pre-conversion Paul. However, what we do know is that a relentless persecutor of Christians was transformed in an instance into one of the most committed, respected and influential leaders in ancient Christianity - a "new man" who experienced a complete 180-degree turnaround. In modern society, we witness millions of people with profoundly negative social attributes - people filled with hatred, hostility, anger, despair, resentment, disrespect and deep apathy... We also witness millions of this very same group of people who have experienced an astonishing metamorphosis through the acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ - and like Paul, have become miraculously transformed.

Such is the saving power of Christ.

Do you have an inspirational story of transformation through the Lordship of Jesus Christ?  Anyone may comment below!

Best,
Mark