psychopathy Path.
(ps-, saɪˈkɒpəθɪ)
[f. Gr. ψῡχο- psycho- + -πάθεια from πάθος suffering: hence sense 1 is etymologically correct; sense 2 follows homœopathy, hydropathy, etc.: see -pathy.]
1. Mental disease or disorder; ‘mental disorder considered apart from cerebral disease’ (Billings). In mod. use, personality disorder that lacks a physiological basis, characterized by markedly impulsive, egocentric, irresponsible, and antisocial behaviour, and an inability to form normal relationships with others, sometimes accompanied by aggressiveness or charm and manifested at all levels of intelligence; the state of such a disorder.
sexual psychopathy, mental disease connected with sexual disorders.
| 1847 tr. Feuchtersleben's Med. Psychol. (Syd. Soc.) 343 The cure of the psychopathies..is different according to their several forms. 1885 [see psychopath]. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 312 Influenza may set up psychopathy. 1902 Daily Chron. 23 Dec. 4/7 Professor Kraft Ebing's fame dates from the publication of his work on sexual psychopathy. 1923 C. Mackenzie Parson's Progress xix. 263 Personally I have found my knowledge of psychopathy of the greatest value in the confessional. 1948 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. LIII. 361/1 Caldwell indicates nomadism, inability to withstand tedium, and irresponsibility as characteristics of psychopathy. 1953 I. Skottowe Clin. Psychiatry ii. 32 Three qualities may be discerned biographically which are a common expression of psychopathy. The first is the lack of persistence..; the second is a curious coldness of heart..; the third is an inability to defer the immediate satisfaction of appetites and desires. 1972 G. Sereny Case of Mary Bell ii. i. 148 The condition of psychopathy is not generally identified with mental retardation. 1972 Zax & Cowen Abnormal Psychol. x. 312 In trying to understand the causes of psychopathy a variety of emphases can be identified, including hereditary, neurological, environmental, and sociocultural. 1976 Church Times 12 Mar. 5/2 He turned loving eyes on the tormenting thugs... They, in their psychopathy, could not see him as a man like themselves. |
2. The treatment of disease by ‘psychical’ influence, e.g. by hypnotism.
| 1891 Blackw. Mag. 406 Mesmerism is to psychopathy what alchemy was to chemistry. 1893 Century Mag. July 435 The importance of adopting psychopathy as a means for the relief of disease. |
3. (See quot.)
| 1863 Denton Nature's Secrets 95 All fossil remains of animals are imbued with the feelings of the animals of which they formed a part, and, under their influence, the Psychometer..feels all that was felt by them... This branch of Psychometry may be termed Psychopathy. |