Glib and Superficial Charm As Well As Early Behaviour Problem Characteristics of Psychopath in the Main Character of the Novel Sharp Objects

Glib and Superficial Charm as well as Early Behaviour Problem Characteristics of Psychopath in The Main Character of The Novel Sharp Objects Retno Budi Astuti Department of English Literature, Faculty of Letters and Culture, Gunadarma University ABSTRACT Sub-genre in a novel might be unique and different. Occasionally, mental illness is one of sub-genre be able to be exist in in genre mystery, romance, thriller or even mental illness, such as psychopath. This study aims to find out two characteristics of psychopath according to Robert Hare, namely Glib and Superficial Charm as well as Early Behaviour Problem. The data was taken from the novel Sharp Objects. The writer found that there are 3 data which showed that the main character is reflecting the characteristic of Deceitful and Manipulative. Furthermore, the writer also found 3 data which showed that the main character is reflecting the characteristic of Grandiose Self-Worth. Keywords: Psychopath, glib, superficial charm, behaviour problem INTRODUCTION Literature is a beautiful work of art created by human with brilliant ideas to express the feelings and describe of human life. Literary works submit to entertain the readers and also to get a lesson of life from the author’s feeling or thought about the world. There are two types of literature which are written and oral. Oral literature could be as ballads, folklore, jokes and fables. Written literature is divided into two parts which are fiction and nonfiction. Fiction includes poetry, prose, novel, short story, and myth while nonfiction includes biography, autobiography, essay and literary criticism. In general, fiction can be defined as the art or craft of contriving, through the written word, representations of human life that command or divert or both. A novel is a type of literary work, normally written in narrative form that includes certain of conflicts in the story of the characters life. Sub-genre in a novel might be unique and different. Occasionally, mental illness is one of sub-genre be able to be exist in in genre mystery, romance, thriller or even mental illness, such as psychopath. There was a case came from Very Idham Henyansyah or also known as Ryan Jombang, an Indonesian convicted serial killer. Ryan killed eleven people, the body of one of the victims was found at the side of the road in Jakarta cut up into seven pieces and was skewered with a crowbar, and the other victims were burried in the backyard of his home in Jombang – East Java by himself. Ryan is openly homosexual and he confessed that most of his victims were also homosexual men. He admitted to killing Heri, one of his victims, after the victim offered him money and a car to have sex with his boyfriend named Noval. Ryan got jealous and irritable until he killed and mutilated Heri and also he threw away the bodies of his victim at the side of the road. After that incident Ryan had fun with Noval use a car and spent money of Heri, Ryan never felt conscience after he killed all of his victims, he have suffered psychological disorders are psychopath and homosexual. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE According to Mario Klarer (1999, p. 1), literature is referred to as the entirety of written expression, with the restriction that not every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense of the word. The definitions, therefore, usually include additional adjectives such as aesthetic or artistic to distinguish literary works from texts such as newspapers, scientific textbooks, magazines, legal documents, brochures, and so on. Literature then, can be said as a creative writing by an author with aesthetic values which makes literature regarded as an art. Literature as a writing form differentiates its form from other art products, and its aesthetic or artistic values make it different from other writings. Novel was originally developed in the region from other forms of narrative nonfiction, such as letters, biographies, and history. But with a shift in society and development time, the novel is not only based on data nonfiction, author of novel can change according to the desired imagination. According to Sumardjo (1999, p. 1), he states “Novel is one branch of literature, which has most reader because a novel besides providing various and interesting themes, it is also, using simple and denotative language so that the readers can understand the story easily.” Every story has its main characters, which can be considered as good or bad characters. These characters create a good collaboration to make the complete story line. Based on their importance in building the plot, characters can be divided into protagonist and antagonist. Abrams states: “The chief character in a plot, on whom our interest centres, is called the protagonist (or alternatively, the hero or heroine), and if the plot is such that he or she is pitted against an important opponent, that character is called the antagonist”. (2005, p. 265) The defect of psychopath’s moral character is reflected in their violent crime such as torturing, raping, killing, stealing and even mutilating. One of the main characters of psychopath is the poverty of emotions, both positive and negative. Psychopathic people have no shame, even those positive feelings toward others is merely a pretence mixture. Psychopath appearances are charming and manipulating people for personal gain. Low levels of anxiety which makes psychopaths sodium absorption ratio might learn from his mistakes and lack of positive emotions encourage them to behave irresponsibly and often cruel to others. The writer uses Robert Hare’s Checklist to show the symptoms of being psychopath, this detail of symptoms are in his book Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths among Us, (1993, p. 34). Here are the characteristics: Robert Hare’s Checklist of psychopath characteristics: 1. Glib and Superficial Charm The tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. He can also be a great listener, to simulate empathy while zeroing in on his targets’ dreams and vulnerabilities, to be able to manipulate them better. 2. Grandiose Self-worth A grossly inflated view of one’s abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings. 3. Need for Stimulation or Proneness to Boredom An excessive need for novel, thrilling and exciting stimulations; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine. 4. Pathological Lying Can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative and dishonest. 5. Deceitful and Manipulative The use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one’s victim. 6. Lack of Remorse or Guilt A lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, cold-hearted and non-empathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one’s victims. 7. Shallow Emotions Emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness. 8. Callousness and Lack of Empathy A lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate and tactless 9. Parasitic Lifestyle An intentional, manipulative, selfish and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self- discipline and inability to begin or complete responsibilities. 10. Poor Behavioural Controls Expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily. 11. Promiscuous Sexual Behaviour A variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests. 12. Early Behaviour Problems A variety of behaviours prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue- sniffing, alcohol use and running away from home. 13. Lack of Realistic, long-term goals An inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life. 14. Impulsivity The occurrence of behaviours that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic and reckless. 15. Irresponsible Repeated failure to fulfil or honour obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work and failing to honour contractual agreements. 16. Failure to accept responsibility for own actions A failure to accept responsibility for one’s actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility and an effort to manipulate others through this denial. 17. Many short-term marital relationships A lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable and unreliable commitments in life, including marital. 18. Juvenile delinquency Behaviour problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviours that are crimes or clearly involves aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.

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