--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: psychopaths are resistant to treatment…" description: "\"“psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens; in fact, they often become more dangerous after treatment as they learn how to manipulate the system...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg" --- # psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens; in fact… ![“psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens; in fact, they often become more dangerous after treatment as they learn how to manipulate the system. Studies have also shown that people diagnosed” quote by Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg) > ““psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens; in fact, they often become more dangerous after treatment as they learn how to manipulate the system. Studies have also shown that people diagnosed”” [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Psychopaths may become more dangerous after treatment as they learn manipulation tactics **In simple terms:** Treatment can backfire, making psychopaths more manipulative Key Takeaway Consider alternative approaches for high‑risk individuals Themes psychology treatment manipulation Mood cautious concerned Type clinical ethical When to use this quote - clinical settings - legal systems - rehabilitation programs - policy making Key Concepts risk management ethical dilemmas Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent manipulation after treatment? - Are there better interventions for psychopathy? A Different Perspective Effectiveness of treatment is uncertain and may increase danger ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Psychopath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopath/) [Psychopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopaths/) ## Related quotes > [What we refer to as 'death' is just a set of symptoms that have proven resistant to treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-merkle/what-we-refer-to-as-death-is-just-a-set-of-symptoms-that-have-proven/) [Ralph Merkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-merkle/) > [No matter how much lip service those committed to power (psychopaths) may pay to the principle of equality (empaths), they can never approach their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arno-gruen/no-matter-how-much-lip-service-those-committed-to-power-psychopaths/) [Arno Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arno-gruen/) > [“I think it is more helpful to characterize criminal psychopaths as “unsuccessful psychopaths”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/i-think-it-is-more-helpful-to-characterize-criminal-psychopaths-as/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [Psychopaths don't have that charming skill set. They definitely manipulate, but they do it through focused, unskilled means. They're more obsessive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-heusinger/psychopaths-don-t-have-that-charming-skill-set-they-definitely/) [Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-heusinger/) > [Even psychopaths have emotions. Then again, maybe not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ramirez/even-psychopaths-have-emotions-then-again-maybe-not/) [Richard Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ramirez/) > [We are all born with an innate understanding of interpersonal equity - the idea that if you lend me your rake today, I'll respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/we-are-all-born-with-an-innate-understanding-of-interpersonal-equity/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [One of the problems with studies that examine the effects of violent imagery is that they typically use mentally healthy psychology students. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/one-of-the-problems-with-studies-that-examine-the-effects-of-violent/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Too many people hold the idea that psychopaths are essentially killers or convicts. The general public hasn't been educated to see beyond the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/too-many-people-hold-the-idea-that-psychopaths-are-essentially/) [Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/) > [“To be sure, if psychopaths do recognize that actions that are harmful are proscribed, this raises a question about why psychopaths and control criminals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-nichols/to-be-sure-if-psychopaths-do-recognize-that-actions-that-are-harmful/) Shaun Nichols > [If I have a mission in life, it is to convince people that everyone is morally motivated - everyone except for psychopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/if-i-have-a-mission-in-life-it-is-to-convince-people-that-everyone-is/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“Justice departments and parole boards all over the world have accepted his contention that psychopaths are quite simply incurable and everyone should concentrate their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/justice-departments-and-parole-boards-all-over-the-world-have/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [“Prisons are full of sociopaths and psychopaths, but when questioned, the imprisoned sociopath will honestly admit that they will commit any number of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-thompson/prisons-are-full-of-sociopaths-and-psychopaths-but-when-questioned/) [Tanya Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-thompson/) > [It is the cult of self that is killing the United States. This cult has within it the classic traits of psychopaths: superficial charm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/it-is-the-cult-of-self-that-is-killing-the-united-states-this-cult/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Language and words for psychopaths are only word deep; there is no emotional colouring behind it. A psychopath can use a word like, ‘I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/language-and-words-for-psychopaths-are-only-word-deep-there-is-no/) [Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/) > [“We’re used to the film versions of psychopaths. The clearly crazies. But most psychopaths are clever. They have to be. They know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-re-used-to-the-film-versions-of-psychopaths-the-clearly-crazies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## More by Steven Briggs > [“An inmate can rub a toothbrush handle against concrete to make a pointed stabbing weapon known as a shiv. Shivs are one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/an-inmate-can-rub-a-toothbrush-handle-against-concrete-to-make-a/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“Travis Hirschi found that delinquents tended to have lower IQs than nondelinquents. This study also found that a lower IQ meant a person was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/travis-hirschi-found-that-delinquents-tended-to-have-lower-iqs-than/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“AD/HD and depression also are linked to higher incidents of antisocial and delinquent conduct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/ad-hd-and-depression-also-are-linked-to-higher-incidents-of/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“A psychopath, as defined by leading expert Dr. Robert Hare, “is a remorseless predator who uses charm, intimidation, and, if necessary, impulsive and cold-blooded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/a-psychopath-as-defined-by-leading-expert-dr-robert-hare-is-a/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“Fresno Bulldogs: This gang is one of the few California Hispanic gangs not to claim allegiance to the Surenos or Nortenos. Latin Kings: This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/fresno-bulldogs-this-gang-is-one-of-the-few-california-hispanic-gangs/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“malum in prohibitum, meaning “wrong because prohibited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/malum-in-prohibitum-meaning-wrong-because-prohibited/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“Diversion programs often give people who have been charged with nonviolent crimes a chance to avoid conviction if they comply with conditions set by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/diversion-programs-often-give-people-who-have-been-charged-with/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“mala in se, which is Latin for “wrong by itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/mala-in-se-which-is-latin-for-wrong-by-itself/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“It’s a well-known secret that most criminals are extremely lazy and unwilling to make extra efforts, even when those efforts may mean increased rewards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/it-s-a-well-known-secret-that-most-criminals-are-extremely-lazy-and/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“In order for punishment not to be, in every instance, an act of violence of one or many against a private citizen, it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/in-order-for-punishment-not-to-be-in-every-instance-an-act-of/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“Recent science supports the idea that until children’s brains are fully developed (at around the age of 25), they’re more likely to be impulsive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/recent-science-supports-the-idea-that-until-children-s-brains-are/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) > [“Gandhi once said, “You can judge a society by how it treats its animals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/gandhi-once-said-you-can-judge-a-society-by-how-it-treats-its-animals/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) [Explore all 13 Steven Briggs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) ## More Psychopath quotes > [Trying to prove you’re not a psychopath is even harder than trying to prove you’re not mentally ill,’ said Tony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/trying-to-prove-you-re-not-a-psychopath-is-even-harder-than-trying-to/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [I would hesitate to tell people to stop being kind or sympathetic to sociopath. But just like loyalty, some things that can be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/i-would-hesitate-to-tell-people-to-stop-being-kind-or-sympathetic-to/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [“Nothing shows lack of conscience better than bold-faced lying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-shows-lack-of-conscience-better-than-bold-faced-lying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [McCain might have suffered hardships in his life, but what had happened to him had nothing to do with his background or his color;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/mccain-might-have-suffered-hardships-in-his-life-but-what-had/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [“We’re used to the film versions of psychopaths. The clearly crazies. But most psychopaths are clever. They have to be. They know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-re-used-to-the-film-versions-of-psychopaths-the-clearly-crazies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [It is not difficult to destroy Islam. Islam is the pumped up ego of a megalomaniac psychopath. Muhammad was a narcissist madman. Just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/it-is-not-difficult-to-destroy-islam-islam-is-the-pumped-up-ego-of-a/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [“I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-m-not-a-psychopath-i-m-a-high-functioning-sociopath-do-your-research/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Let’s take a quick look at what a psychopath is. Although the American Psychiatric Association (APA) no longer uses this term, much of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkconnell/let-s-take-a-quick-look-at-what-a-psychopath-is-although-the-american/) Robert Kirkconnell > [Language and words for psychopaths are only word deep; there is no emotional colouring behind it. A psychopath can use a word like, ‘I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/language-and-words-for-psychopaths-are-only-word-deep-there-is-no/) [Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/) > [Usually sociopaths will look down upon us for that very reason - that we're gullible. We're weak. One person told me that he thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/usually-sociopaths-will-look-down-upon-us-for-that-very-reason-that/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [It is the cult of self that is killing the United States. This cult has within it the classic traits of psychopaths: superficial charm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/it-is-the-cult-of-self-that-is-killing-the-united-states-this-cult/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Prisons are full of sociopaths and psychopaths, but when questioned, the imprisoned sociopath will honestly admit that they will commit any number of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-thompson/prisons-are-full-of-sociopaths-and-psychopaths-but-when-questioned/) [Tanya Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-thompson/) > [When someone like myself points out the rather obvious and compelling evidence that God is cruel and unjust, because he visits suffering on innocent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/when-someone-like-myself-points-out-the-rather-obvious-and-compelling/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Sociopaths are more complicated psychopaths; the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath is a sociopath is incredibly charming. There are a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-heusinger/sociopaths-are-more-complicated-psychopaths-the-difference-between-a/) [Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-heusinger/) > [The show's writers had peppered the piece with words like "savage," "wild," and "animalistic." What bullshit. Show me the animal that kills for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/the-show-s-writers-had-peppered-the-piece-with-words-like-savage-wild/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Browse all 337 Psychopath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens; in fact, they often become more dangerous after treatment as they learn how to manipulate the system. Studies have also shown that people diagnosed”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Briggs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-regimens-in-fact-they-often/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Psychopath" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-regimens-in-fact-they-often/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/steven-briggs-36083_quote_psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-r_2021846.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens; in fact, they often become more dangerous after treatment…” — Steven Briggs", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Briggs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“psychopaths are resistant to treatment regimens;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-regimens-in-fact-they-often/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/psychopaths-are-resistant-to-treatment-regimens-in-fact-they-often/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```