BOOK REVIEW

The Wisdom of Psychopaths – Kevin Dutton

A compelling deconstruction of and reintroduction to society's most feared

          One of my most beloved friends, an erudite and intimidatingly well-read student of psychology, has long held the opinion that certain traits of my personality would qualify me as psychopathic. I’ve never taken this, nor has he intended it, to be offensive or judgmental, for each time the subject has been broached he’s underscored that one’s personality can be imagined as a set of dials across various facets of character, with psychopaths tending to have just one or two knobs turned up beyond what would be considered societally normal. Personal research has corroborated this analogy but I was still curious to dig further into what others may deem, from outside our relationship, to be a thinly veiled defamation of character.

          This book, authored by psychologist Kevin Dutton of the University of Oxford, works to enlighten readers on the true nature of psychopathy by delivering a thorough exposition of the condition and its manifestations. Dutton begins by emphasizing that not all psychopaths are criminals and in fact many are fully functional, non-dangerous individuals, echoing my friend’s sentiments. Perhaps in anticipation of obdurate skepticism, such is the degree to which the label of psychopath has been doused with petrol, he repeatedly stresses this point, qualifying it by noting how several top CEOs and lawyers exhibit psychopathic behaviour. However, while this meritorious effort to destigmatize the term was likely necessary for many readers, by its conclusion I felt it had become belaboured.  

          Subsequently, Dutton expands on the defining characteristics of a psychopath, including the ability to detach from empathy at will, heightened calmness under pressure, natural charm and a sense of vulnerability in others. He posits that when channeled appropriately, such as in the case of a ruthless prosecutor amidst a trial, these traits can actually elevate job performance to an otherwise unattainable level. This claim to the benefits of living as a ‘method psychopath’ are supported through fascinating neuroscientific research wherein one’s brain is stimulated to imitate a psychopathic psyche – resulting in a dramatic improvement on the execution of high-pressure tasks.

          Though I myself already held this view, I believe most readers would find Dutton successfully repudiates the social narrative that psychopaths are necessarily malevolent and also acknowledge his argument that there is much to learn from their modi operandi. Too, while the book is a Michelin-star buffet of studies on which to feast intellectually, an afterthought critique of Dutton’s writing style is his pervasive use of creative metaphors to reinforce a key takeaway.  On holistic reflection, I learnt an incredible amount but am still uncertain on whether I would fall in the 2% of the populous who are psychopathic. Further research has informed me that no psychiatric or psychological organization has formally sanctioned a ‘psychopathy’ diagnosis, indicating there is still much undone work to fully comprehend this demonized condition.         

-NP, January 2017