Deception and language skills in psychopathic female offenders

Abstract

This study explores the use of deception as a form of social manipulation among female psychopaths. Language abilities are seen as a key component to successful deception. With communication skills a socially manipulative psychopath can create the illusion of intelligence, competence, and high functioning. The projection of this social persona facilitates entry into many social arenas where the psychopath may prey upon the innocent. The current study predicts female psychopaths use deception and social manipulation more than direct physical aggression. Applying Megargee's classification system for female offenders psychopathic women were identified and separated from a sample of 291 prisoners. Once isolated socially manipulative psychopaths were the largest group, displayed greater language abilities, and attempted to appear more functional then they actually were.