¶ … antisocial personality disorder (APD) as displayed by serial killer Belle Gunness. The essay discusses her behaviors with reference to the DSM IV criteria and reviews theoretical perspectives on APD.
Belle Gunness, who immigrated to the U.S. In 1881, was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth in November 1859 in Selbu, Norway. Following her immigration, a series of suspicious fires and deaths resulting in insurance awards ensued. Shortly after marrying Mads Sorenson in 1884, the couple's store and home mysteriously burned down, with them claiming the insurance money for both. Sorenson died soon after of heart failure on the very day that his two life insurance policies overlapped, and Belle received about $8,000 from his life insurance. Even though his family demanded an inquiry, no charges were filed, nor were the couple's two children accounted for. They were believed to have been poisoned in infancy for the insurance money as well (A+E Networks, 2011).
Additional unexplained deaths occurred, including Belle's stepdaughter, the infant daughter of Belle's new husband, Peter Gunness, followed by Gunness himself. The insurance company paid on his policy as well. Belle began placing ads in Norwegian language newspapers, "Widow, with mortgaged farm, seeks marriage. Triflers need not apply." (La Porte County Historical Society, 2010).
Belle's wealthy suitors were here next victims, each of whom brought cash to her farm then disappeared forever. In 1908 Belle's luck appeared to be running out, as her victims' families demanded investigations and as her ranch hand and lover, Ray Lamphere, made a series...
523). The voices that schizophrenics hear might indeed persuade them to commit criminal and even violent acts, and the delusions of persecution might also lead to such behaviors when schizophrenics encounter individuals that they believe to be "enemies" within their framework of delusion (Hirsch & Weinberger 2003, pp. 25-7). In addition to these rather extreme symptoms of schizophrenia, other milder signs often accompany the disorder and can appear as precursors
These people have been seen to have rigidity towards people who are struggling in life and are going through a tougher time or with people who are already emotionally weak or vulnerable in case where they might be going through a tough relationship. It has been reported that if these people are asked for advice for better parenting with a troubled teen, the advice from an overtly controlling person
People with high self-esteem do not behave in an antisocial manner. They are not overly dramatic and they also do not feel like the world revolves around them. The low self-esteem manifests itself in the various characteristics displayed by people with these personality disorders and surprisingly, manner of the characteristics are the same. We all have our own interpretation of what is considered normal behavior. For the most part, most
" Psychotherapy, for instance, would include treatment through talking. Furthermore, this would be divided by type of psychotherapy employed. Types include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and psycho-education. The second type of treatment approaches, medications would also include several medications varying in intensity and purpose. For instance, antidepressant medication would be prescribed for those suffering from depression associated with personality disorders. Mood-stabilizing medications would even out an individual's
Therefore, it is likely that "men who are highly comorbid for antisocial PD and alcohol and drug use disorders are more likely to die young or be incarcerated than women and thus less likely to be represented in general population surveys." (Grant et al., 2006, p. 128). However, because incarcerated or dead men do not present for treatment, these findings are still of use to the practitioner. Conclusion Both articles do
Personality Theories: Personality Disorders and Their Diagnoses Personality theorists often differ on how the term personality should be used. In fact, Gordon Allport, one of the first psychologists to focus on personality, had more than fifty different definitions for the term. According to Engler (2014), Allport's basic idea was that personality is the true nature of an individual that influences the way they behave and think. Carl Rogers, another influential psychologist,
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