Lovefraud research

Abstract: Drive theories of motivation proposed by Lorenz and Tinbergen did not survive experimental scrutiny; however these were replaced by the behavioral systems framework. Unfortunately, political forces within science including the rise of sociobiology and comparative psychology, caused neglect of this important framework. This review revives the concept of behavioral systems and demonstrates its utility in the development of a unified theory of human social behavior and social bonding. Although the term “attachment” has been used to indicate social bonds which motivate affiliation, four differentiable social reward systems mediate social proximity and bond formation: the affiliation (attachment), caregiving, dominance and sexual behavioral systems. Ethology is dedicated to integrating inborn capacities with experiential learning as well as the proximal and ultimate causes of behavior. Hence, the behavioral systems framework developed by ethologists nearly 50 years ago, enables discussion of a unified theory of human social behavior.

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Senior Psychopaths: Informant Reports of Deceit, Exploitation and Antisocial Behavior Beyond Age 50. Donna Andersen. Research poster for the 8th Biennial Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, May 2-4, 2019, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The common wisdom among researchers and mental health clinicians is that psychopaths tend to “burn out” in middle age. This impression is supported by research with criminals (e.g. Hare, McPherson & Forth, 1988, Arboleda-Florez & Holley, 1991).

An online survey sought informant reports of antisocial behavior in likely antisocial individuals in the community who were age 50 or older. A total of 2,120 romantic partners, family members, friends and associates of putative antisocial individuals responded.

Of the total survey respondents, 1,215 rated the individuals according to the nine criteria proposed in the first draft of the DSM-5 for ASPD/psychopathy. Symptoms were rated on a 0-3 scale, from “0 = Very little or not at all like that” to “3 = Extremely like that,” for a total possible score of 27. Responses indicated that participants understood the items. The mean total score for putative ASPD individuals was 21.19, SD 5.116, and Cronbach’s α was 0.811 for the nine items.

Qualitative responses were collected to add validity to the numeric scores. Asked if the individual was manipulative while over age 50, 97.67% of respondents agreed.

A total of 826 respondents said they knew the individual both before age 50 and after age 50. Asked if the individual “mellowed out” or “burned out” and engaged in less manipulation, deceit or antisocial behavior after age 50, 1.91% (17) said yes, much less; 6.76% (60) said somewhat less; 39.30% (349) said no, the same amount of manipulation; and 52.03% (462) said the manipulation, deceit and antisocial behavior became worse after age 50.

Therefore, 91.33% of respondents said the putative antisocial individual’s behavior was just as bad or worse after age 50.

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In Love With an Exploiter: Sexual Deception Correlates with Increased Harm to Romantic Partners. Donna Andersen. Research poster presented at the 5th Biennial Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, June 6-8, 2013, Washington, D.C.

Romantic partners of putative antisocial individuals completed an anonymous online survey. Respondents rated partners according to the criteria proposed in the first draft of the DSM-5 and answered questions about their experience, including harm suffered.

Of all survey respondents, 81.5% said the individual was truthful about sexual orientation, and 18.5% reported that they lied. Analyzing these two groups separately—data about putative sociopathic individuals who told the truth about their sexual orientation vs. those who lied—showed that sexual deception correlated with increased harm suffered by the romantic partner. On almost every measure, individuals who were sexually deceptive displayed more antisocial traits, more antisocial behavior, and caused more harm to their romantic partners, than those who were not sexually deceptive.

The results were particularly striking when comparing sexually deceptive vs. not sexually deceptive in regards to physical violence and sexual demands: Victims reported more physical abuse or injury (46% vs. 33%). They reported having their lives threatened more often (49% vs. 30%). They reported more pets injured or killed (23% vs. 12%). They reported more cheating (87% vs. 72%). And they reported uncomfortable sexual demands (53% vs. 37%).

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In Love With an Exploiter: How Age Affects Harm Experienced by Romantic Partners. Donna Andersen. Research poster presented at the 5th Biennial Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, June 6-8, 2013, Washington, D.C.

Romantic partners of putative antisocial individuals completed an anonymous online survey. Respondents rated partners according to the criteria proposed in the first draft of the DSM-5 and answered questions about their experience, including harm suffered. In another analysis of the survey data, respondents were divided into two groups—those who were involved in youthful relationships, where both parties were between the ages of 14 and 30, and those relationships were both parties were age 31 or older.

Respondents of both age groups reported two of the top characteristics, manipulativeness and callousness, at similar rates. However, all other traits—deceitfulness, narcissism, irresponsibility, impulsivity, aggression, hostility and recklessness—were reported at higher rates among the younger individuals.

Comparing the youthful vs. mature involvements: Victims reported more physical abuse or injury (54% vs. 29%). They reported having their lives threatened more often (42% vs. 28%). There were more reports of the putative antisocial individual threatening suicide (31% vs. 17%). And the victims themselves more often considered suicide (46% vs. 34%). In regards to financial harm, the youthful victims more often lost their homes (36% vs. 23%), lost their jobs (31% vs. 24%) and incurred debt (69% vs. 56%).

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Antisocial/Psychopathic Personality: What do Family Members, Romantic Partners and Friends Report? Donna Andersen. Research poster presented with Liane J. Leedom, M.D., at the 4th Biennial Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, May 19-20, 2011, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Aims: The present study examined the construct of DSM V antisocial/psychopathic personality through reports of romantic partners, family members and friends of putative antisocial individuals. Rationale: We maintain that educated informants who have known subjects for a long period of time have important information to share regarding their behavior and functioning.

Methods: Romantic partners, family members and friends of putative antisocial individuals were accessed through a public education website. These informants completed an anonymous survey which included ratings of proposed DSM V dimensions as well as open ended questions regarding their observations and experiences. Respondents were also asked about their understanding of the terms, “sociopath,” “psychopath” and “antisocial personality disorder”.

Results: Respondents (N= 1,378) rated the putative antisocial individuals as quite manipulative, deceitful, callous and narcissistic (in that order). These individuals were also judged to be hostile, aggressive, irresponsible, impulsive and reckless, though overall less so. Males were described as more deceitful, irresponsible and reckless than were females. Contrary to the proposed DSM V language, most respondents indicated that these very antisocial individuals did “articulate love,” and less so, “anxiety.” Interestingly, a minority of the subject antisocial individuals, about 10%, were described as rarely or never articulating love.

Conclusions: Informants who have known subjects well for a long period of time are useful sources of information about those subjects and the nature of the antisocial/psychopathic personality pattern. Antisocial/psychopathic individuals do maintain social connections, often for extended periods of time; they also “articulate love” in the service of these connections, which serve their social and material needs. The public would benefit from an agreed upon, precise diagnostic label for this condition. The proposed DSM V term antisocial/psychopathic type is too cumbersome for public education.

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