She studied extreme psychopaths. Here’s what it taught her about human nature | Abigail Marsh

Summary

In this insightful talk, Professor Abigail Marsh of Georgetown University challenges the notion of human selfishness by examining psychopathy and altruism. She explains that psychopathy, a neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized by a lack of empathy and callous behavior, while altruism involves extraordinary selflessness. Marsh suggests that people can become more altruistic by starting with small acts of kindness, highlighting the joy and social benefits of helping others.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The existence of psychopathy provides evidence that humans are not fundamentally selfish, as psychopaths lack genuine concern for others' welfare.
• 🌟 There is a spectrum of psychopathy, with some individuals exhibiting 'anti-psychopathic' traits, showing a high capacity for caring and altruism.
• 🔍 Science has identified specific brain regions associated with valuing other people's welfare, suggesting an innate human capacity for empathy.
• 🌱 Trusting one another is a more enjoyable and accurate way of being than cynicism, and understanding human nature can foster a more trusting society.
• 👩‍🏫 Abigail Marsh, a professor at Georgetown University, studies the neural and cognitive basis of empathy, altruism, and aggression.
• 🎭 The concept of psychopathy derives from Hervey Cleckley's work, who described psychopaths as outwardly normal but with profound emotional deficits.
• 🗡️ Extreme psychopathy can lead to serious antisocial behavior and violence, with serial killers like Gary Ridgway exemplifying this.
• 😶 The 'mask of sanity' refers to psychopaths appearing normal while concealing severe internal emotional deficits.
• 🔑 The difference between 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' is that 'psychopath' is a clinical term, while 'sociopath' is not used in scientific contexts.
• 🧬 Psychopathy is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a small percentage of the population and is characterized by early brain differences.
• 🛡️ Altruistic individuals, on the opposite end of the spectrum, are characterized by humility, belief in others' goodness, and sensitivity to distress.

Q & A

What is the common misperception about human nature discussed in the script?

The common misperception is that humans are fundamentally selfish, meaning every motivation is based on self-interest and there is no capacity for genuinely caring about others.

Why does the existence of psychopathy provide evidence against the idea of humans being fundamentally selfish?

The existence of psychopathy, a disorder where individuals genuinely do not care about others' welfare, shows that the capacity for caring is not a universal human trait, suggesting that people are not inherently selfish.

What is the spectrum of psychopathy like according to the script?

Psychopathy exists on a spectrum, with very psychopathic people at one end, people in the middle, and 'anti-psychopathic' individuals at the other end who are unusually caring and altruistic.

What regions of the brain have been identified as encoding the value of other people's welfare?

The script does not specify the exact brain regions, but it mentions that there are identified areas that seem to encode the value of other people's welfare.

Why is it important to have a better understanding of human nature based on scientific literature?

A better understanding of human nature is important because it promotes trust among people, which is a more enjoyable and accurate way of being than being cynical.

Who is Abigail Marsh and what does she study?

Abigail Marsh is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University, and she studies the neural and cognitive basis of empathy, altruism, and aggression.

What is the significance of the book 'The Mask of Sanity' by Hervey Cleckley in the context of psychopathy?

Hervey Cleckley's 'The Mask of Sanity' is significant because it captures the essence of psychopathy, where individuals outwardly appear normal but have profound internal deficits in emotion and engagement with others.

What are the key traits that compose psychopathy according to the script?

The key traits of psychopathy include a mean, callous disposition; a bold, socially-dominant personality; and disinhibited or impulsive behavior.

How does psychopathy relate to aggression, and what is the difference between reactive and proactive aggression?

Psychopathy is associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in aggression, especially proactive aggression, which is deliberate and aimed at achieving a goal, as opposed to reactive aggression, which is a response to feeling threatened or frustrated.

What is the difference between 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' as used in the script?

'Psychopath' or 'psychopathy' is a scientific and clinical term, while 'sociopath' or 'sociopathy' is not. Clinicians and scientists use the term 'psychopathy' to refer to the disorder.

How can people test their level of psychopathy or altruism according to the script?

People can test their level of psychopathy using self-report tests like the TriPM, available on the PsychopathyIs website, and their level of altruism using the HEXACO personality test, which measures the belief in the fundamental mattering of other people.

What are some ways people can become more altruistic according to the script?

People can become more altruistic by starting with small, feasible actions to help others, which can naturally lead to greater generosity. The script also suggests that policies promoting well-being can encourage generosity.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 The Misconception of Innate Selfishness and the Role of Psychopathy

The paragraph challenges the common belief that humans are inherently selfish, suggesting that our motivations are not solely self-serving. It introduces the concept of psychopathy as evidence against this notion, highlighting that psychopathic individuals lack concern for others' welfare, which implies that non-psychopathic individuals have the capacity for care. The existence of a spectrum of psychopathy is discussed, with 'anti-psychopathic' individuals at the opposite end, exhibiting high levels of altruism. The speaker, Abigail Marsh, a professor at Georgetown University, studies the neural basis of empathy and altruism, referencing Hervey Cleckley's work on psychopathy and the 'mask of sanity' that such individuals wear to conceal their emotional deficits. The paragraph also touches on the difference between 'psychopath' and 'sociopath,' emphasizing the former as a clinical term, and the latter as non-scientific. Psychopathy is described as a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a small percentage of the population and is characterized by early brain development differences.

05:01

🤔 The Characteristics of Psychopathy and the Potential for Altruism

This paragraph delves into the traits that define psychopathy, including a mean and callous disposition, a bold and socially-dominant personality, and disinhibited or impulsive behavior. It explains how these traits can lead to a lack of fear and understanding of the consequences of their actions, which is why traditional methods like polygraph tests may not be effective for psychopathic individuals. The paragraph also discusses the concept of 'anti-psychopathy,' presenting altruistic individuals who perform selfless acts despite personal risks. It contrasts the common perception of altruists with more nuanced examples from popular culture, like Iron Man, to illustrate that altruism can coexist with human flaws. The speaker discusses the traits of altruists, such as humility, belief in the goodness of others, and sensitivity to distress, and how they extend their care to even strangers. The paragraph concludes with information on self-assessment tools for psychopathy and altruism, such as the TriPM and HEXACO tests, and suggests that altruism can be cultivated and is generally on the rise, indicating a positive trend in human behavior.

10:03

🌟 The Joy of Altruism and the Path to Becoming More Generous

The final paragraph focuses on the positive aspects of altruism, emphasizing the joy and satisfaction derived from helping others. It suggests that policies promoting well-being can also foster generosity, as individuals who are doing well are more likely to be generous. The speaker recommends starting with small acts of kindness as a way to become more altruistic, as the act of helping others can be self-reinforcing and lead to increased joy. The paragraph ends with an invitation for the audience to join a community for deeper exploration of these topics, offering early access to content and full interviews.

Keywords

💡Psychopathy

Psychopathy is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a lack of empathy and remorse, alongside manipulative and antisocial behaviors. In the video, it is used to contrast with the concept of altruism and to illustrate that humans are not inherently selfish, as psychopathic individuals genuinely do not care about others' welfare. The script mentions that psychopathy exists on a spectrum and is associated with certain personality traits like a mean, callous disposition and a bold, socially-dominant personality.

💡Altruism

Altruism refers to the selfless concern for the welfare of others, often involving actions that benefit others at a personal cost. The video discusses altruism as a counterpoint to the misconception of human selfishness, highlighting that some individuals exhibit extraordinary altruism, such as rescuing people from danger or donating organs. The character of Iron Man is given as an example of someone who is altruistic but not in the traditional saintly sense.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is a key concept in the video, as the speaker, Abigail Marsh, studies the neural and cognitive basis of empathy. The video suggests that most people have the capacity for empathy, which is evidenced by the existence of 'anti-psychopathic' individuals who are particularly caring and altruistic.

💡Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system and brain function. Abigail Marsh, as a professor of psychology and neuroscience, investigates how brain regions encode the value of other people's welfare, which is central to understanding empathy and altruism. The script implies that neuroscience can provide insights into why some individuals are more altruistic or psychopathic than others.

💡Aggression

Aggression in the video is divided into two types: reactive and proactive. Reactive aggression is a response to being angered or threatened, while proactive aggression is deliberate and goal-oriented, such as threatening someone to achieve a personal aim. The video explains that psychopathic individuals are more likely to engage in proactive aggression, which is a key trait of psychopathy.

💡Fearlessness

Fearlessness, as discussed in the video, is a trait of psychopathy where individuals do not experience fear in the same way as others. This trait contributes to their bold and socially-dominant personality, making them less responsive to risk, threat, and punishment. The fearlessness of psychopaths is contrasted with the empathy and concern for others shown by altruistic individuals.

💡Disinhibition

Disinhibition refers to a lack of social restraint or impulse control, often manifesting in behaviors such as stealing or lying without a clear reason. The video describes disinhibition as a key trait of psychopathy, where individuals act impulsively and are less likely to consider the consequences of their actions.

💡The Mask of Sanity

The term 'The Mask of Sanity' comes from Hervey Cleckley's book and is used in the video to describe the outward appearance of psychopathic individuals. Despite their inner emotional deficits and antisocial tendencies, they appear normal or even super normal to others, hiding their true nature. This concept is central to the video's discussion on the misconception of human selfishness and the reality of psychopathy.

💡Humbleness

Humbleness is highlighted in the video as a trait of altruistic individuals, who view themselves as no different from others despite their extraordinary actions. This self-perception allows altruists to empathize with and help others without seeking recognition or reward, which is a stark contrast to the self-serving nature of psychopathy.

💡Extraordinary Altruists

Extraordinary altruists are individuals who perform acts of altruism at great personal risk or cost. The video describes them as being humble, believing in the goodness of others, and being highly sensitive to distress. Their actions demonstrate a deep commitment to the welfare of others, even strangers, which challenges the common misperception of human selfishness.

💡TriPM

The TriPM is a self-report test mentioned in the video for assessing psychopathy. It is a brief but well-validated test that measures the bold, dominant, and relatively callous personality traits associated with psychopathy. The video suggests that taking such tests can help individuals understand their own tendencies towards psychopathy or altruism.

Highlights

Humans are not fundamentally selfish; the existence of psychopathy supports this view.

Psychopathy is a disorder where individuals show a genuine lack of concern for others' welfare.

Psychopathy exists on a spectrum, with varying degrees of empathy and antisocial behavior.

Regions in the brain are identified that encode the value of other people's welfare.

Abigail Marsh, a professor at Georgetown University, studies the neural basis of empathy, altruism, and aggression.

Hervey Cleckley's work on psychopathy emphasizes the 'Mask of Sanity' that psychopaths wear.

Serial killer Gary Ridgway exemplifies extreme psychopathy with his lack of regard for victims' welfare.

The 'Mask of Sanity' concept explains how psychopaths can appear normal while hiding severe internal deficits.

The difference between 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' lies in the clinical and scientific validity of the terms.

Psychopathy is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about 1-2% of the population.

Key traits of psychopathy include a mean disposition, boldness, and disinhibition.

People with psychopathy are not born with the choice to develop these traits.

Anti-psychopathic individuals are extraordinarily altruistic, often helping others at great personal cost.

Extraordinary altruists are characterized by humility, belief in others' goodness, and sensitivity to distress.

Iron Man is an example of a character who embodies altruistic traits despite not fitting the traditional altruist image.

Tests like the TriPM and HEXACO can measure one's level of psychopathy and altruism.

Global trends show an increase in generosity and helping strangers over time.

Starting small acts of kindness can lead to becoming more altruistic, as it is a self-reinforcing process.

Transcripts

- It's a very common misperception

that humans are fundamentally selfish-

meaning every motivation that drives us

is based in a desire for what will benefit us,

that we don't have any capacity

for truly caring about other people.

I think there are reasons to be confident

that can't be true,

and I think one of the most compelling

is the existence of the disorder called 'psychopathy.'

So people who are highly psychopathic genuinely don't care

about other people's welfare.

And so I think the fact that psychopathy exists

is pretty clear evidence

that people are not fundamentally selfish.

In addition, we now know that psychopathy exists

on a spectrum:

so there's very psychopathic people, people in the middle,

but also people who are sort of anti-psychopathic.

Most of that distribution of people

definitely have the capacity to care for other people,

and we've identified regions of the brain

that specifically seem to encode the value

of other people's welfare.

I think it's really important

for the reality of human nature

based on the scientific literature to be better understood,

because trusting one another

is a lot more enjoyable way to be,

and it's more accurate, frankly, than being cynical.

And so to try to understand that better,

I have been studying extreme populations of people

who have done things in the real world

that suggest they're unusually caring or unusually uncaring.

My name is Abigail Marsh.

I'm a professor of psychology and neuroscience

at Georgetown University,

and I study the neural and cognitive basis of empathy,

altruism, and aggression.

The way we think about psychopathy now derives

from the work of a psychiatrist named Hervey Cleckley,

who was a really legendary clinician

who spent many, many years studying people with psychopathy.

He wrote a book called "The Mask of Sanity,"

and I think that title perfectly captures what it is

that makes people with psychopathy unique,

which is that they outwardly appear completely normal,

even super normal.

They seem just like anybody else,

but that really is a mask

that's concealing inner profound deficits in emotion

and the way that they engage with other people.

In its extreme form,

psychopathy can drive

some of the most serious antisocial behavior

and violence that we see.

So for example, the serial killer, Gary Ridgway,

is perhaps the most psychopathic criminal.

He killed dozens of young women

over the course of a few decades.

We'll probably never know exactly how many.

His behavior, and also the way he talked about them,

made it clear just how little he valued their welfare.

He didn't think that they mattered.

The thing that I think unnerves people the most

about serial killers like Gary Ridgway

is just how normal they seem to everybody around them.

They had families,

they were known members of their community

that were not caught for many years,

in part, because nobody suspected

that they could be doing such horrible things

under the surface.

And that's a really good example of the mask of sanity.

There's somebody doing things

that are so awful under the surface

that you would think

there must be some sign of it externally.

But in the case of some people with psychopathy,

there really isn't.

I get asked a lot, "What's the difference

between the term psychopath and sociopath?"

The main difference

is that the term "psychopath" or "psychopathy"

is a scientific and clinical term,

and the term "sociopath" or "sociopathy" is not.

It's really important to emphasize

that no clinician or scientist would ever refer to a person

as a psychopath.

We don't refer to people as their disease

or as their disorder anymore.

And so I refer to people who have psychopathy

or who are psychopathic.

So what we know about psychopathy

is it's a neurodevelopmental disorder,

in its extreme form affects probably 1% of people,

maybe 2%.

And it's pretty clear

that people who go on to develop psychopathy are different

from a very early age

because their brain is developing differently.

Psychopathy is best thought of

as a constellation of personality traits,

and the three key traits that compose psychopathy include,

most importantly, a mean, callous disposition.

They really don't care about other people's welfare,

and they'll do things that hurt other people

to benefit themselves.

They're certainly more likely to engage

in various forms of aggression,

especially when that aggression

is aimed at achieving a goal.

So aggression can be divided into two broad categories:

Reactive aggression,

which is the kind of aggression you show

when somebody has made you mad,

when you've been threatened, when you're frustrated,

and then there's proactive aggression-

it's deliberate aggression aimed at achieving a goal.

So you threaten to hurt somebody

in order to take their money

or to take something that belongs to them.

You threaten to reveal somebody's secrets

so that they do what you want them to do.

That kind of aggression is really uniquely psychopathic.

Second is a bold, socially-dominant personality.

That boldness really reflects a fearless core.

They don't seem to understand why other people feel fear.

They're not good at recognizing when they're afraid,

and if you have that problem,

you're much more likely to do things

that cause other people to feel fear

without really understanding what the big deal is,

and they just don't respond to risk

and threat and punishment the way that other people do.

That happens to be one of the reasons

that the polygraph doesn't work,

because that's one of the things the polygraph

is picking up on is fear responses when people are lying;

people with psychopathy don't have those responses,

not nearly as strongly, at least.

And third is being disinhibited or impulsive.

They'll steal things from people,

they'll steal things from stores.

They'll lie often easily,

and not really even for any reason.

It's not really your fault if you have these traits.

That's not to say that you don't deserve consequences.

If you hurt somebody and you're psychopathic,

I would never argue that-

but I think it's really important

that we balance our desire,

that they experience some consequences

from what they've done

with our understanding

that they didn't choose to be this way.

On the other end of the spectrum

are people who are anti-psychopathic,

people who are, in some cases, extraordinarily altruistic,

who do things to help others

at real risk and cost to themselves,

like rescuing people from drownings or fires

or donating organs or bone marrow to other people.

They're genuinely unselfish.

And I hesitate to say that

because the image that that conjures up

in most people's minds

is if somebody who's sort of saintly, right,

they think of them as like a guardian angel

or somehow superhuman.

It's not like they never swear.

It's not like they never get, you know, mad

when they're stuck in traffic.

They're just ordinary people in most ways.

The character of Iron Man is a really interesting example

because, of course, he is very altruistic.

He does a lot of things to help other people,

but he doesn't seem like an altruist should seem, right?

He's kind of a wise-cracker.

He's done some things that are less than savory in his past,

but at core, you can tell

that he really does care about the other people around them,

and he will go to great lengths to help them.

And so in some ways,

I think that's a more realistic depiction

of a genuinely altruistic person

than the more sort of flat,

one-dimensional old-school character like Superman.

Although extraordinary altruism

is not a clinical condition, obviously,

it is typified by traits

that set altruists apart from other people.

So first, their humility.

They tend to think of themselves as just the same

as anybody around them,

despite the fact

that they have actually done some pretty unusual things,

and that seems to be a really core feature of altruism.

If you think that everybody is equally special,

helping others makes more sense.

They tend to believe in the goodness of other people.

They're much less likely to believe

that others can be truly evil.

Finally, they seem to be more sensitive

to other people's distress.

They're more likely to empathize with

and recognize other people's fear and also their pain.

What's really unusual about extraordinary altruists

is that even when it comes to people

who were very distant from them,

people who were only acquaintances or even strangers,

they still seem to value their welfare.

We're supposed to help people who are close to us

if they're in trouble,

but if it's a perfect stranger,

most of us don't see it as an obligation in the same way.

And yet extraordinary altruists,

I don't think really see it that way.

They really do think,

"Well, this is a human being

whose, you know, welfare is fundamentally important."

If people are interested

in knowing how altruistic versus psychopathic they are,

there are a couple tests out there on the internet

that you can use to test yourself.

One of the better self-report tests of psychopathy

is called the TriPM,

and it's available on the website of PsychopathyIs.

It is a brief but very well validated test

of that bold, dominant, relatively callous personality

that typify psychopathy.

And you can get a percentile score

and find out where you fall.

If you get a very low score on a psychopathy test,

it may be a sign that you're highly altruistic.

But another way to test that

is using a personality test called the HEXACO.

What it really captures is the degree to which you believe

that other people fundamentally matter

versus are exploitable for your own good.

There's really good evidence

that people can become more altruistic.

If you look at global trends,

you see generally

that people are donating more money over time.

They're helping more strangers over time.

One of the things

that seems to make people become more generous

is when they themselves are doing better.

And I think because they have the psychological

and physical resources to do so,

so that's really good news

because it means that policies

that promote flourishing and well-being

will probably also promote generosity.

But the best evidence

for how people can become more generous is by just starting.

And so I generally recommend

that if people would like to become more altruistic,

you think of some small feasible way to do things

to help other people,

and it should naturally proceed upward from there-

because one of the absolute best things about altruism

is how incredibly pleasant it is.

It's such a source of joy for most people to help others.

And that becomes a self-reinforcing process.

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