Primitive Defenses in the Language of the Psychopath: Considerations for Forensic Practice

Abstract

ABSTRACT The PCL-R is the primary means of assessing psychopathy in research and forensic practice. However, recent research suggests that supplemental measures of defensive process used in conjunction with the PCL-R may better capture the psychopath's internal core. Borderline personality organization and the relationship between defensive process and cognitive style are inextricably linked to psychopath's ability to feel. The use of primitive defenses guides the psychopath's interpersonal style and mediates emotional experience. The relationship between unconscious defensive process and conscious cognitive style is a distinguishing feature of psychopathy within which the unique emotional (and emotionless) experiences of the psychopath can be more fully explored and understood. This paper reviews the literature on the assessment of borderline personality organization in psychopaths offering illustration of expression of primitive defenses in the language of the psychopath. The ways in which psychopaths' verbal and interpersonal expressions of defensive process can be utilized in criminology, criminal justice, and forensic practice are discussed.