Research Into A Female Psychopath

Due to one of my characters acting as a psychopathic killer, I decided to research into female psychopathic killers to see if there was anything that I could add to my character or help develop it. 

It is known throughout psychology that most psychopaths are male, however both female and males have similarities and differences. It is known that male psychopaths are seven times more common than females. 

In society it is known that women have motherly instincts and are a lot more sympathetic. They show their emotions more than men do, therefore you are less likely to assume that a serial killer would be a woman. Unlike men, female crimes do not have a sexual element to it. Rape or sexual harassment is almost always committed by men. Research and experiments show that money or power is often the cause for them to commit.  In relation to appearance, serial killers often look like everyday regular people. They try to appear like a regular person that nobody would suspect. Their main aim is to blend in with society and not get noticed. In relation to my own character of Claudia who is a female psychopath, I do not want her wearing large amount of make-up that would make her stand out. I want her to appear very natural and plain, so that nobody would potentially pay that much attention to her as a person. 

Upbringing plays a large factor in delinquency in both males and females. Behaviour that is not acceptable in society today can often be seen from childhood. They begin to think it is okay to break the law and behaviour like stealing, aggression and drug abuse is acceptable to them. Soon these crimes become worse. Crimes like arson, burglary and even murder are now committed. Poor parenting is often a cause as well as living in a bad area  or receiving a poor education. Unfortunately, those who get caught end up in prison. 

References

decision-making-confidence (2006b) Female Sociopaths - different but just as dangerous! Available at: http://www.decision-making-confidence.com/female-sociopaths.html (Accessed: 17 March 2016).

The field guide to the female psychopath (1991) Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight-is-2020/201508/the-field-guide-the-female-psychopath (Accessed: 17 March 2016).