FM3 | Is Psychopathy represented fairly in Slasher Films?

"Psychopathy is not a homogeneous personality construct"

In many instances, horror films; many of which reside under the budget 'Slasher' sub-genre, take the clinical description of Psychopathy out of proportion. These continued misconceptions of the mental condition which affects nearly "1 in 10 people" has ingrained a false perception of Psychopathy into society. The clinical description of Psychopathy states that a Psychopath merely lacks the ability to manifest feelings of Empathy with other humans; yet it's certainly not a slip of the tongue or rare occurrence to hear 'Psycho' or 'Psychopath' to be used as an synonym for 'murderous' and 'insane'. As of now, the general public's definition of 'Psychopathy' is a kin to that of 'Sociopathy' or 'Psychosis'; this societal definition of the mental illness doesn't show signs of clearing any time soon. This is an example of how misconceptions in Media can be dangerous because how effective it is at misleading the public. Slasher films perpetuate myths about Psychopathy which damages those who suffer from the condition in the real world; hindering diagnosis and treatment of the person while also labelling them as a 'threat' to those who don the cultural definition of a Psycho. Films do this because the unrealistic, cultural definition of Psychopathy is fascinating, as well as being a cheap and easy way for film-makers to explain the motive behind the maniacal killers in their film.

Questions/Talking Points:

• Is Psychopathy represented fairly and accurately in Slasher Films?
• Is the accuracy of mental health becoming more or less accurate as films progress?
• Do slasher films have a habit of demonising mental illnesses?

Primary films:

• Psycho (1960) (Main Focus)
• Halloween (1978)  
• Scream (1996)

Secondary films:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• Friday the 13th (1980)
• Alone in the Dark (1982)
• American Psycho (2000)
• Maniac (1980)
• Dark Ride (2006)

Primary accompanying article:

Psychopaths in Film: Are Portrayals Realistic and Does It Matter? - Joan Swart

Quotations:

• "Such depictions continue to influence wider public perception of the association between mental illness in general, and psychopathy in particular, and the ensuing criminal behaviours." 
• "These misconceptions, which often focus on violent and homicidal acts, bizarre mannerisms and appearance, sexual depravity, above average intelligence, and a calm, calculating demeanor, per- petuate myths of psychopathy that hinder the diagnosis and treatment of those who qualify according to professionally accepted criteria."
• "However, although very few psychopaths are violent and become murderers, it is here that the focus and fascination remains very much attached to such misconceptions."
• "By bringing together the scientific status and understanding of psychopathy with the cultural views that are guided by film, the principal interest here is to analyze trends and the effective and realistic, and not so effective and realistic, por- trayals of psychopathic characters in these media channels. "
• "More specifically, these examples disaggregate the filmic psycho- path into discrete classifications that include adult male, adult female, the young, and the corporate psychopath. By focusing on psychopathy in such a selection of fictional characters, the effect that film and television has on the public perspectives of psychopathy is highlighted."
• "Although the concept of psychopathy emerged mostly in the nineteenth-century based on the works of French psychiatrist Phillipe Pinel and American psychiatrists Benjamin Rush and JC Pritchard as a synonym for aggressive and irresponsible behavior, it was still a generalized attempt to explain ‘moral insanity'."

Secondary accompanying article:

'Psychopathy and the Cinema: Fact or Fiction - The Journal of Forensic Sciences - Written by: Samuel J. Leistedt M.D., Ph.D and Paul Linkowski M.D., Ph.D'

Quotations:

• "The clinical description of and epidemiological data on fictional psychopaths in popular films have become more realistic."
• "Realistic fictional psychopaths remain in the minority but are very important for didactic purposes in Academic facilities, as “teaching Movies.”
• "From 400 films (1915–2010), 126 fictional psychopathic characters (21 female and 105 male) were selected based on the realism and clinical accuracy of their profiles."

Third accompanying article:

• PSYCHOS ON SCREEN - Chris Wright (interview)