Should we be surprised at his attempts to try to fake mental illness?
For some, incarceration and evading law enforcement is a very normal part of life, making DV's personality very psychopathic in a general framework. To DV however, his faking is normal and routine. DV stands to benefit from lying about his mental condition in order to receive less punishment. This action seems very normal however. Most people wish to escape punishment if afforded the opportunity, and DV is no different.
This week's information about psychopath and psychopathic behavior reveals the tricky and subjective nature of individual circumstance and the mental approaches associated with those circumstances....
Unfortunately blanket statements about what the harms and characteristics of psychopaths are not very useful, normalcy is too hard to pin down. Gross demonstrations of non-empathetic, selfish undertakings and willful ignorance are very commonplace in much of society and distinguishing between healthy and non-healthy behaviors is becoming more and more of a challenge and perhaps a lost cause.
References
Hare, R.D. (1993). Without conscience: The disturbing world of the psychopaths among us. New York: The Guilford Press.
K. Heilbrun, G.R. Marczyk, and D. DeMatteo, Forensic Mental Health Assessment: A Casebook. Copyright 2002 Oxford University Press Books U.S. & UK.
