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How Is The Silence Of The Lambs Related To Psychology

1971 Words8 Pages

Sophia Corey
Mr. Petty
AP Psych
22 May 2023
The Silence of the Lambs
Among the first fictional films featuring antisocial serial killers, The Silence of the Lambs caused controversy. The film is based on a psychopathic murderer and cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who helps the FBI catch sociopathic and gender dysphoric killer Jame Gumb -- nicknamed Buffalo Bill. Throughout the film, the FBI agent in training, Clarice Starling, works with Dr. Lecter to gather information on Gumb before he kills his next victim. While he gives the FBI clues on how to catch Gumb, he has an agenda. Although Dr. Lecter and Jame both have antisocial personalities, they are not alike in their motives for crime as Gumb attempts to ease his gender identity discomforts …show more content…

Lecter and Gumb characterize antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), which is a mental disorder defined by a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights and feelings of others. Individuals with ASPD lack remorse and empathy and commonly manipulate others solely for their own benefit. In addition, they may behave impulsively or disregard laws, which can lead to criminal behavior. (Kiehl and Hoffman 355-397). Psychopathy and sociopathy are not clinical diagnoses but can be used to describe individuals with ASPD who also meet a distinct set of criteria. While not all people suffering from ASPD are psychopaths or sociopaths, all psychopaths, and sociopaths must have an antisocial personality type. There is considerable overlap in characteristics between ASPD, psychopathy, and sociopathy, with specific traits distinguishing each (Antisocial Personality …show more content…

Psychopaths tend to have severely impaired empathy and moral reasoning, which partly can contribute to their violent tendencies. While not all psychopaths commit crimes contrary to their portrayal in the media, they commit a disproportionate number of extremely violent and premeditated crimes. Psychopaths may appear superficially charming or charismatic, but they are highly manipulative and deceitful, with their behaviors driven by what is most advantageous for them. Their high capacity to control their behavior when necessary can allow them to function -- to an extent -- in society and sometimes hold successful careers (Kiehl and Hoffman 355-397). The limited emotional range of psychopaths extends to their capacity to feel fear and stress. Brain imaging reveals psychopaths have lowered levels of stimulation both at rest and during stressful situations. This constant state of under-stimulation can partly contribute to their aggressive and violent tendencies as that would provide stimulation. Their limited emotional processing can be attributed to their reduced limbic system activity and neural networking, especially in the amygdala. These regions are responsible for emotionally processing empathy, guilt, fear, and moral reasoning. Additionally, brain scanning has revealed psychopaths have decreased gray matter in their frontal lobe and increased white

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