The "psychopathic personality" is not to be attributed to an organic or functional defect. Psychopathic behavior or emotional maladjustment is strongly indicative of trial-and-error attempts to utilize the constantly accumulating energy generated in the presence of a stress situation for which the individual possesses no adequate outlet. Consequently, otherwise normal reactions become overcharged with energy and result in anti-social modes of response, or else less adequate responses are utilized to relieve the tension state. The fault lies in the type of behavior utilized rather than in any fundamental physio-organic disorder. Since all social behavior is learned there is great hope for the ultimate elimination and prevention of antisocial modes of conduct now designated as "emotional" in nature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)