The Psychopath Test Book Analysis

The Psychopath Test is a non-fiction book written by Jon Ronson, and published by Picador in the UK on May 12th, 2011. This book spans the subject of mental disorders, zooming in on psychopaths and their innate tendencies. The book also touches on the subject of the mental health industry, revealing its faults and how it changes all people, encompassing opinions to the way one views themselves.

This book takes a birds eye view on the mental health world, from diagnosis with DSM to critical advancements with B.F. Skinner's experiments. We explore all different types of mental disorders along with different stances of many licensed professionals. Childhood bipolar disorder is investigated quite thoroughly near the end of the book, along with its implications, and misconceptions that surround, and the divide of opinions it causes. The expanse of this book is focused on psychopathy, but the layout applies to many other disorders described. The book first starts by dismissing the act of diagnosing mental health disorders and psychopathy due to the vast area for error, and the fact that, in most cases, there are no physical symptoms to diagnose, and it's all up to expert opinion. This is demonstrated with a great deal of examples that don’t specifically target the patients, but the psychologists and psychiatrists themselves. Soon after, we delve into the world of psychopaths and their minds, using the ‘twenty-point Hare PCL-R Checklist’. Here there is a definite list of the traits and tendencies that psychopaths display. Soon after learning these tendencies the author starts to recognize these traits in many people, and diagnoses some with the new knowledge. We then examine case studies of psychopaths in different settings, from corporate CEOs to men in psychiatrist hospitals and then counter the ideas followed throughout the book, leaving the reader with questions of their own personal opinions and thoughts on the matter.

Jon Ronson is a journalist, author, and filmmaker, who is based in the United Kingdom. He obtained a degree in media studies and wrote books, namely, Clubbed Class, Adventures with Extremists, The Men Who Stare at Goats, and the book we’re reviewing today; The Psychopath Test. These books are case study based, researching and talking to many people that fit the criteria of the subject matter that's written about. The author reviewed and spoke with many psychiatrists, psychologists, and scientologists to write this book. He provided their insight, ideas, and theories to then go on and apply them to certain case studies, and then provided a brief personal opinion using this new knowledge.

This book begins on the note of the broad concept of mental disorders, and how they’re easily misjudged by the general public and even licensed psychiatrists. An example of this from the book is a case study of a man named Tony, who was admitted into a mental hospital hoping for a quick release. We then follow his fourteen year journey in a psychiatric hospital and some struggles he's faced. Tony was admitted into Broadmoor psychiatric hospital for mental illness as a consequence of beating up a homeless man, and faking insanity to plead a shorter sentence. Once he went in for his evaluation he decided to use stereotypical ideas of psychopaths that are commonly portrayed in pop-culture such as plagiarizing Ted Bundy books and enjoying seeing others in pain. We soon learn later in the book that the psychiatrists saw right through Tony’s scheme and truly identified him as a psychopath for reasons unspecified. Throughout the book we continuously checkup on Tony, and his quest for freedom, which he receives in the final chapters of the book where it is declared during a tribunal. Furthermore, there is an inherent focus on psychopathy and diagnosis, and where most psychopaths thrive; in the corporate or political world. Al Dunlap, a very successful CEO and billionaire demonstrates this point throughout his study. He expresses his views of the world and corporate society in a predator-prey basis, which exploits the weaknesses of others. This easily fits in Hare's PCL-R checklist due to the innate manipulation that occurs under this mindset. Once asked about this psychopathic mindset, Al Dunlap was visibly upset, having his discussion simplified to the basis of if was a psychopath or not. Dunlap quickly dismissed the claim while continuously endorsing items of the checklist such as grandiose sense of self-worth which he brushed off as confidence in self to attain the best business. The meeting ended shortly after this brief discussion, where Al Dunlap was neither confirmed or denied a psychopath. Tony and Al Dunlap both showcase typical psychopathic behaviors and how they manifest in real life ranging from numbers one through twenty on the PCL-R checklist.

The depiction of psychopathy in this book enlightened me on many subjects such as the diagnosis process, and how inaccurate it can truly be. The in depth inspection of the bias and opinion that's brought into diagnoses all across the board notified me of the true variety that occurs from one expert to another in the mental health world. Some believe in checklists down to the tee, referencing them as accurate, falsifiable, and reliable, while others use less definite terms to diagnose because of different conditions and circumstances that can skew this precision. “... because he had sexualized behaviors, and because he’d been through some moody stuff… he fulfilled the bipolar checklist,” we then find out, “...the boy wasn’t bipolar... He was moody and had sexualized behavior because he had been sexually abused. But they were in thrall to the checklist.”(page 250) Contrary to many insinuations of the book, this section provides a counter opinion to the main focus, the PCL-R checklist and its accuracy, although looking at a different disorder. Accounting for a variety of situations that could compel different reactions helped frame the relationship between the hundreds of mental and personality disorders known to man. Differentiations between the disorders are also highlighted by exploring the causes of psychopathy, and how it so drastically changes your perception of society and those around you. Bob Hare explains this by stating, “But the tests seemed to indicate that the amygdala, the part of the brain that should have anticipated the unpleasantness and sent the requisite signals of fear over to the central nervous system, wasn’t functioning as it should.”(page 94) This hypothesis, although not currently confirmed as the cause of psychopathy, provides the reader with some insinuation of what may be a sizable factor. While explaining and examining, Bob Hare did an experiment called, the Startle Reflex Test, to examine psychopaths and non-psychopaths, along with how to differentiate between the two. “The both were invited to look at grotesque images and at random times would have an incredibly loud noise let off in their ear”(page 94). This again reiterates the biological differences between psychopaths and those who aren’t, continuously confirming the fact that this disorder is life long and there is no way to fix it. This is why we see so many case studies in this book in mental facilities and asylums, due to the sheer fact that since there is no cure, psychopaths are very likely to reoffend, and often show no true progression towards societies “normal”. The slow but explicit introduction of this fact informed me of the true psychological dangers of a psychopath, using their means to manipulate and exploit to gain their true desires. The author depicted this well, informing the reader with facts and examples, along with real life testimonies.

The illustration of psychopathy in this book is quite cliche in a sense, painting a picture of your average deranged psychopath. Although there are brief mentions of the criminalization of these people, the main focus of the book is on their desensitized selves and criminal activities. This Psychopath Test also bashed the mental health industry and their diagnostic techniques along with their specialists, depicting many in a bad light. To combat this issue I would recommend taking some insinuations in this book with a grain of salt. Despite the few negative implications I’ve stated, the book is a compelling read, and it doesn’t have a dull moment. There's humor, despite the heavy subjects that are discussed, without it being over the top or ill-mannered regarding the subject.

Jon Ronson’s ‘The Psychopath Test’ signifies the superficiality of the mental health world, especially in America, but brings in its explanations, examples, and analogies on the basis of psychopathy. We delve into the true reliability of the mental health field of diagnosis, and explore the idea that many psychiatrists aren’t 100% sure, leaving room for error and allowing sane behavior to be labeled as deranged. The author provides perspectives from boths sides of the coin, and leaves the final interpretations up to the reader.