Psychopathic killers: Computerized text analysis uncovers the word patterns of a predator

As words can be the soul's window, scientists are learning to peer through it: Computerized text analysis shows that psychopathic killers make identifiable word choices -- beyond conscious control -- when talking about their crimes.

Scientists have analyzed the speech patterns of 14 convicted (male) psychopathic murderers and compared them to 38 convicted non-psychopathic murderers. Both groups were asked to describe their crimes in detail while they were recorded. Their words were transcribed, then subjected to computer analysis.

Psychopaths used more conjunctions like "because," "since" or "so that," implying that the crime "had to be done" to obtain a particular goal. They used twice as many words relating to physical needs, such as food, sex or money, while non-psychopaths used more words about social needs, including family, religion and spirituality. Unveiling their predatory nature in their own description, the psychopaths often included details of what they had to eat on the day of their crime.

Psychopaths were also found to speak in the past tense, more often than not, which the researchers say suggests a detachment from their crimes.

"Previous work has looked at how psychopaths use language," Hancock said. "Our paper is the first to show that you can use automated tools to detect the distinct speech patterns of psychopaths." This can be valuable to clinical psychologists, he said, because the approach to treatment of psychopaths can be very different.

This research could lead to new tools for diagnosis and treatment, and have implications law enforcement and social media.

Psychopathic killers: Computerized text analysis uncovers the word patterns of a predator

Now, as far as I know, this has only been put into practice with people convicted of violent crimes (murder). This is purely speculation (and might be stretching it a bit), but what if, some day, they take it a step further and begin to use it as a screening process? Let's say my words are transcribed and subjected to analysis via a computer... Computer tells psychiatrists that, based on my words alone, I might be a psychopath. What happens then? I have never committed a crime, let alone a violent one, but because of my speech patterns, I *might* some day. Am I guilty before the fact? Will a stigma be placed upon me, a 'red flag' that follows me around for the rest of my life?

What do you think?

Well being a Psychopath is not a crime, it just lends to committing a crime.

So all this would do would point out those most likely to have committed a crime, it would be too limited for field use as how much crime is actually committed by true Psychopaths?

JP Morgan, et al. can use this text analysis to hire their next generation of brokers, traders, CEO's, and anyone else.

Pschopaths are better at pursuing higher profits than non psychopaths.


Why use it just for crime prevention? Use it to get more jobs!

reply to post by JourPolaire


I would tend to think this would not be a bad technology provided it is not misused. However Law enforcement tends to misuse every kind of technology they acquire. Further he validity of the claim of technology use in this case is based only on 14 subjects compared to 38 with non psychopathic tendencies? there could be as many as 1 million psychopaths among us in the US alone, so I will wait until further study is done on more subjects.
...This doesn't appear to be any where near a complete study to formulate software and use it to trace this type of behavior. but I am sure law enforcement will embrace it without further or do.
I actually hope this pans out because it would be possible then to determine possible suspects in certain types of crimes. But I truly believe they need to be sure on this before they even come close to moving ahead.
I envision people being labeled Psychopaths merely to used technology to falsely accuse. Computers and software are both involved here, and both can be altered, changed and manipulated. I see good things in this and I also see great danger.
DH

reply to post by benrl


You're correct, being a psychopath is not a crime, but there is a stigma attached to it.

What if you were arrested for a non-violent crime, maybe even a really minor one, subjected to this test, and the results of said test were used against you at trial? You might not actually be a psychopath, but analysis of your speech patterns might show psychopathic tendencies. You've already committed a crime (however minor it might have been) and now you have the word 'psychopath' attached to you, as well.

How fool-proof this is, I don't know. I don't know how they gauge the results, either. The computer just analyses your speech patterns... psychopath, or not. Someone still has to diagnose you.

reply to post by BadMagician




That's one way of looking at it, for sure.

Originally posted by DavidsHope
reply to post by JourPolaire

 

I envision people being labeled Psychopaths merely to used technology to falsely accuse. Computers and software are both involved here, and both can be altered, changed and manipulated. I see good things in this and I also see great danger.
DH

I agree. I'd like to think it could potentially be used as an aid in the treatment, but, again, we're notorious for using and abusing, as well.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see where this goes, if it goes anywhere at all.

they have such a small amount of people to work with.

alot of people with psychology degrees trying to keep the checks coming.

Originally posted by JourPolaire
reply to post by benrl

 

You're correct, being a psychopath is not a crime, but there is a stigma attached to it.

What if you were arrested for a non-violent crime, maybe even a really minor one, subjected to this test, and the results of said test were used against you at trial? You might not actually be a psychopath, but analysis of your speech patterns might show psychopathic tendencies. You've already committed a crime (however minor it might have been) and now you have the word 'psychopath' attached to you, as well.

How fool-proof this is, I don't know. I don't know how they gauge the results, either. The computer just analyses your speech patterns... psychopath, or not. Someone still has to diagnose you.

If the tests are used against you after an arrest for a minor crime I would say you have gotten a really bad lawyer and are now entitled to a retrial or appeal. Good Luck. I would think that any kind of "diagnosis" using this technology should come under the cover of medical information and would not be readily available to the general public.

Originally posted by JourPolaire

Now, as far as I know, this has only been put into practice with people convicted of violent crimes (murder). This is purely speculation (and might be stretching it a bit), but what if, some day, they take it a step further and begin to use it as a screening process? Let's say my words are transcribed and subjected to analysis via a computer... Computer tells psychiatrists that, based on my words alone, I might be a psychopath. What happens then? I have never committed a crime, let alone a violent one, but because of my speech patterns, I *might* some day. Am I guilty before the fact? Will a stigma be placed upon me, a 'red flag' that follows me around for the rest of my life?

What do you think?

Just don't talk about what you ate for lunch when and if that day comes.

On a practical note, I think this has some positive aspects when used for screening. I'd like to see this screening process become available to anybody!

Have you ever dated, or been married to a psychopath? If I only knew then, what I know now!

My initial reaction, or what jumps out at me about this is that it seems to be "implanting" a thought into our subconscious!

It is saying that a Psychopath would "speak in the past-tense", and so in the future-tense we can see how there will be a ton of people who are looking back upon what was but faced with what is.

When the NWO takes hold, most will forgo the previous paradigms of "freedom, rights, and personal power" and will immediately begin to move into the next paradigm. This is one of those plants that draws out those who are unwilling to "let go" of the past. Those who speak in "past-tense" or how it used to be or how it was "suppose" to be will find themselves removed from Society as "Psychopaths".

Sorry, this is how it sort of presented itself, in a "future-tense" fashion! I guess that means I am "Normal"!

reply to post by JourPolaire


Very interesting S&F.

I think that, in order for you to be judged by your words, those words would have to be said in a specific context.Just taking random samples of your words without understanding the context would be fallacious,as you may be employing a device such as irony, or maybe a quote or paraphrase.
I think the analyst would have to control the context of the conversation as they have done in the above case by only interviewing murderers.Murder is the context, nothing else.Bringing in a non murderer in this instance would probably have produce skewed data

When this system is perfected to a point where broader contexts can be examined, someone should analyse certain speeches by Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Peter Sutherland and their ilk.

Actually "because" there are many psychopaths who go there whole lives without committing a single serious crime, "since" they have learned to control it "so that" they are able to live among the non-psychos in normal society, this shouldn't be usED to put anyone away, but perhaps the could be put on a list and watchED, just to make sure they havent DONE anything terrible, you know, IN THE PAST!?!?
And I'm out(tED? [You know, as in "outted" as a known-psychopath?? Yeaaah, now you're with me ])! Thank you ladies and gentlemen! (unspoken emphasis on the "gentle" part, boys, we don't wanna hurt em... Not. Yet. )

Any psychopathic tendancies displayed in the above text are to be taken strictly in jest and jest only. This has been a presentation by ZackMorris and Friends, ZackMorris is an affiliate of "Hey relax, I was just joking" studios. ZackMorris is not responsible for any injuries, deaths, or hurt feelings due to sensitivities in the studio audience. "Hey relax, I was just joking" studios does not condone or represent any of the feelings or ideas expressed here today. This presentation does not represent the beliefs, actions, or have anything otherwise to do with "Hey relax, I was just joking" studios. In other words, we can just throw this sick, disgusting crap in your face night after night, without being held responsible for ANY of it, no matter how much it corrupts your children, exposes the truth you dont want to face, or offends the very core of your being and/or changes the innocent part deep inside yourself that you will NEVER, EVER get back. See you next time! :^D

sounds like a whole lot of bunk to me

14 people?

they spoke in past tense about their crimes? did these crimes not happen in the past?
so apparently proper grammar is a trait of psychopaths.

why do people always believe every so-called scientists(have we checked their credentials?) that "computerizes" something in order to find a magical new way to target a different group of people as being "the other".

i think people must enjoy it, feeds the ego's need for superiority.

Hmm, the only psycho killers I have heard of are those whom are cLled TPTB, they have no emapthy. Others such as thomas hamilton were sponsored by tptb. I mean, lord robinson was the referee for the guy which allowed him to get a fire arms certificate.

I dont think, among the sheeple, there are very many psychopathic killers at all. They all sit at the top of the pyramid.

next time you're in an interrogation room, a suspect in a quadruple homicide, avoid talking about your lunch.

Interesting post and thread. Me and my husband have had a couple od psycopathic friends over the years............yes they do commit crimes but that doesn't mean they are all serial killers. The two I have known weren't...........that I'm aware of anyway.

Ah well show me a completly sane person left on this ball of muck we call home? I dont think anyone is really sane anymore! Our society is sick in the nut these days! Stands to reason i suppose.

The article said nothing about it being used as evidence one is a killer. Since this test is not habeas corpus, it could only be used to enhance a case and certain judges may claim it is circumstantial evidence.

What this article does do is highlight what psychology's and sociology's best contributions to humanity may end up being...educating us about psychopaths.

Personally, I believe TPTB are mostly made up of psychopaths and their submissive fan boys and fan girls. They have always had major power, but they owned the 20th century.

The 21st Century needs to be the time the rest of us start learning the signs of psychopaths, because most of them are very charming during interactions.

The United States in its current form is a macro version of the Manson Family. That is if Manson was legion, wore suits, ivy league and had blue blood. We of course are the family. Charlie stays home, while he has trained us to invade peoples homes and kill in the name of some myth about the greater good.

omg.. anyone who uses because or so as is totally psychopath.

I asked my wife why she left the bathroom door open, and she started by saying, "because.." should I turn her in? I'm torn here.,