Call It: A study on Psychopathy and Anton Chigurh

Humans, in general, are destructive creatures. Since the dawn of man, bloodshed is common. War is, by definition, a human creation. However, humans rationalize war with more noble ideals: courage, pride, etc. Nations raise their warriors up as heroes, and in some cases, treat them like gods. Samurai, Aztec, Gladiator, Marine. All warriors from different times and all wielding different weapons. But all have one core thing in common. All are murderers. What sets these men apart from criminals? Is it a cause? Does fighting for a country forgive the many families left without a loved one? The answer to this question is simply a matter of human emotion. Like most humans, most of these warriors had empathy for their opponents and honored them. Emotion is the key difference between a human and something far more devious; a psychopath.

“The psychopathic personality is characterized by a constellation of traits including impulsivity, callousness, and irresponsibility.” (Walsh 2006) The subject lacks all moral boundaries which makes most humans listen to their conscience. The psychopath often displays an inhumane lack of empathy for anything, often resorting to violence against animals and humans alike. In the eyes of others, this person would be perceived as sick and any preconceived notions of a poor soul with a mental disorder would instantly disappear. However, this disorder is real and the subject may need institutionalization in order to be eventually reintegrated into society. However, hope for patients with psychopathy is extremely low. Some even goes as far as saying that psychopathy is both unmanageable and incurable.

However, this psychopath, upon first inspection, would appear fairly normal. In fact, most possess an extremely charismatic way of dealing with others. “In addition to their aggression and violence, psychopaths are thought to be chronic deceivers, often lying for instrumental reasons such as to escape punishment” (Porter 2006) Psychopathy is often accompanied by pathological lying, in which the subject deceives many others for no obvious reason. However, this does not discredit the number of liars who uses deception as a form of allure, in which trust is built. As a result, the lies can vary from what the person did on an afternoon to what the person does for a living. Minor “white lies” can quickly change into larger ones, leading the victim to question everything. This manipulation, coupled with the psychopath's charismatic personality, is key in how cult leaders gain a steady following.

Though, it should be noted that not all psychopaths end up as cult leaders or killers. “The interpersonal and affective features [of psychopathy] are fundamentally tied to a socially deviant (not necessarily criminal) lifestyle that includes irresponsible and impulsive behavior, and a tendency to ignore or violate social conventions and mores.” (Hare 2009) A psychopath, by definition, may not ever commit a criminal act. Some may lead fairly simple lives, never crossing over into the truly deviant types. On the other hand, a psychopath may commit the most heinous of crimes that are never discovered due to the extreme intelligence one may possess. Many may go to great lengths to cover up anything, in order to continue their reckless lives. Others may keep whatever secrets they have, even after being caught. The severity of psychopathy is, like most other psychological disorders, dependent on the individual.

Comorbidity can include anti-social personality disorder, substance abuse, ADHD, anxiety and a number of personality disorders. Thus, these factors can also play into how a psychopath may react to certain situations. Perhaps the most dangerous conditions paired with psychopathy is PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder. This disorder is common in soldiers who experience traumatic events, and is usually characterized by flashbacks. These flashbacks may be triggered at any time and coupled with psychopathy, the subject may display increased aggression, leading to an extremely dangerous mix of rage and manipulation.

The causes of psychopathy are mainly disputed. While some argue that genetics have a large part in the appearance of psychopathy, others claim that the childhood one experiences may have a large part in the condition. The general consensus between psychologists, is that there is a major neural problem going on. “...reduced emotional attention in psychopathy; that is reduced priming of emotion relevant representations in the temporal cortex by the amygdala.” (Blair 2008)

Psychopathy is largely thought to be hereditary. It commonly appears between family members. Often, a patriarch has it, the offspring will display the condition as well. This, however, does not mean that all family members will have psychopathy, nor does it mean that they will carry out criminal acts like those before them.

While genetics may have a large part, the childhood will most likely decide if the genes “activate.” If a trauma does not appear, the condition may never makes itself known. In contrast, a major trauma may appear, and psychopathy may not show up at all.

Throughout history, there has been a number of psychopathy cases documented. However, the amount of psychopaths seen in popular, and independent, cinema completely overshadows historical cases. As film and storytelling evolves, typical story arcs change according to the times. The classic good versus evil films have divulged into a new archetype where both good and evil have favorable and distressing qualities. This enables the viewer to both sympathize with the villain and dislike the hero.

The villain in film has also majorly evolved. While stereotypical villains of the past often could be easily trumped by the protagonist, recent villains have become far more intelligent and charismatic than previously displayed. While older films are centered around the blatant story arc shown on screen, recent films require viewers to dig into the back story of a character. The filmmaker now has the ability to control the depths in which a character displays realism.

Often within this back story, one will discover the reasoning and motives behind anything that character does. This brings the character on screen to life and enables a deeper suspension of disbelief. Naturally, the characters can be studied more deeply and in some cases, these characters can be psychologically diagnosed, both villain and hero alike. In perhaps one of the most shocking displays of psychopathy in film, Anton Chigurh shows how dark a psychopath's mind can delve.

In the 2007 Coen Brother's film, No Country for Old Men based on a book by Cormac MacCarthy, Vietnam veteran Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon the remnants of a drug deal gone wrong. He finds and takes two million dollars, which brings psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh after him to recover the money. Chigurh is a textbook example of a psychopath, killing any and all that get in his way with no remorse.

In perhaps the most chilling scene of the film, Chigurh enters a rest stop and leaves the question of whether or not he kills the clerk up to chance. This scene displays the common psychopathic trait of charisma. Chigurh is questioning the clerk in an almost playful way. The clerk simply wishes to engage in polite conversation asking about the weather. Chigurh questions his assumptions and begins a delicate dance of words which obviously disturbs the older man. Finally, Chigurh flips a coin and tells the clerk to call it. The man tells Chigurh he did not wager anything, to which Chigurh responds “You've been putting it up your whole life.” This one line reveals everything about Chigurh. He is impulsive, cruel and extremely intelligent. During this scene, Chigurh has some surprise insights to life. He states that the coin's mint date is 1959, and that it had traveled 21 years to get to that place. It had traveled 21 years to decided the fate of the clerk.

After the clerk correctly calls it, Chigurh gives him the coin and advises him not to simply put it in his pocket, where it will be mixed in with all the other coins. “It will become just another coin.” he states, turning to leave. Before leaving the store, he turns back and says “Which it is.”

Later in the film, another character states that Chigurh has morals that transcend money and drugs. This raises the question of whether the large amount of murders committed by Chigurh were necessary in his quest to recover the money from Moss. All of those murders were simply committed for enjoyment.

However, not all of the deaths can be rationalized by joy. Earlier in the film, Chigurh offers Moss the chance to save his wife by giving himself up for death. Moss denies this offer, believing he can kill Chigurh and claim the two million without worry. This decision haunts the viewer as Chigurh appears at Mrs. Moss's home. Llewelyn had been gunned down earlier and Carla Jean, Llewelyn's wife, buried her mother that day, only to arrive home to Chigurh sitting coyly in her bedroom. He explains that he offered Llewelyn Carla Jean's safety, but he had arrogantly denied him. Chigurh claims that it is something that he has to do, implying that he is the angel of death. This rationalization is the basis for her murder, another trait common in those diagnosed with psychopathy. He offers Carla Jean one chance by calling a coin he flips, thus creating a game out of the life or death scenario. She denies to play the game because it is not up to the coin to decided; that Chigurh has all the power.

In this same scene, Chigurh asks that if the road had led her to this end, then of what use is the road? This insight displays Chigurh's impulsivity, simply asking of what use is life? His mortality is questioned here, challenging why he would even be doing all of this anyway.

Ultimately, Chigurh has no remorse for anything he does. Often, when committing his heinous crimes, Chigurh shows no emotion at all. The only emotion ever shown during a kill, is in the beginning of the film, where he strangles a deputy after just being apprehended. “When the deputy finally dies, Chigurh exhales with an almost orgasmic satisfaction.” (Falsani 2009) This scene of emotion instantly defines the type of character Chigurh is, making it extremely difficult to sympathize with his blight. In fact, he comes of as a cold blooded murderer with no discernible blight. He is simply a villain, through and through, who will never have any redeeming qualities.

Unlike most humans who commit sins, Chigurh displays no chance of redemption during any of the scenes he is in. A character even describes Chigurh as the devil incarnate, simply there to create chaos in any community he enters. He is ultimately the worst nightmare any human could imagine, and as quick as he appears, he is gone.

After a serious car accident, Chigurh emerges with various serious injuries, including a broken arm, and simply disappears before medical personnel can show up to aid him. The threat of capture is far more overwhelming than the wounds, so he peacefully fades into suburbia.

One can only guess what happens after he disappears. Evidence would support the hypothesis of Chigurh entering another community to take on whatever jobs others would not take. Was the whole incident simply another chapter in Chigurh's bloody life, rather than an episode of his psychopathy?

Chigurh is one of the worst cases of psychopathy in film history. He is one of the greatest villain of the 21st century. Perhaps one of the most aggravating things to see as a viewer, is the fact that Chigurh gets to walk away. Classic storytelling would lead the story arc in a direction where, even though Moss would die, Chigurh would ultimately be captured. This never happens on screen, and no evidence is ever presented that Chigurh is ever captured.

The only evidence of Chigurh's past is immediately shown at the beginning of the film, where Chigurh is captured. This indicates that Chigurh had committed other criminal acts before the film begins, leading the audience to believe that Chigurh is well versed in the art of murder. Thus, Chigurh will inevitably commit other acts of violence.

While evidence supports that his crimes are simply not unique in nature due to his past, Chigurh's childhood and origin of his psychopathy are never explained, nor are any clues given. His origin and even his nationality is completely alien to the 1980 era west Texas in which the story takes place. Thus, he is truly unique to the community. However, as one character notes, there are a lot of murderers, criminals and psychopaths out there in the world. While he is alien to the community, the world in which the story takes place is just as gritty and dark as the world of today.

Chigurh is ultimately one of the darkest characters ever to grace the screen. His psychopathic actions simply symbolize the world in which we live; a world ripe with chaos. Though Chigurh's story is a work of fiction, his story is not unique. Psychopaths are in existence, and often part of a community that will inevitably be shaken to the core with the actions of one person.

Diagnosis of psychopaths can be quite difficult if their deviancy never crosses the line of criminality. A case may end up lying dormant inside a community without anyone ever knowing, not because of a good cover up, but simply because that individual never acted on the impulses. Perhaps that person did act on the impulses, but ended up seeking help and ultimately being reintegrated in society. While a psychopath may be institutionalized and reintegrated, chances of relapse are always possible. Psychotic episodes can occur at any time, resulting in horrific consequences.

Indicators are quite hard to spot in those that have psychopathy. Most are completely nonverbal and can be easily missed. In a study by Jessica Klaver, it was found that “psychopathy was related to increased response time, number of words spoken, and illustrator use, with the interpersonal dimension specifically related to increased blinking and speech hesitations.” (Klaver 2006) Often times the psychopath would display awkward visual cues that are common in people who are lying. This can help tip off an individual to lies told by the psychopath, thus making it easier to get the desired, truthful response from the individual.

Psychopathy can ultimately be an extremely dangerous psychological disorder. One who possesses this condition can either be a major threat to society, or a perfect member of it. Whether Anton Chigurh of No Country for Old Men, or a neighbor, psychopaths are existing in society. With this knowledge, some members of a community may live in fear. They may create “watch dog” groups and guard their children diligently. However, suburbia will never be completely safe. As quick as a fire may break out or an earthquake may hit, Anton Chigurh may be there. Falsani says it best when describing Chigurh and his interaction with the west Texas region: “There is a stranger in our midst come to destroy us.” (Falsani 2009) Ultimately, whether or not a stranger appears is purely a matter of chance. It is purely a coin toss.

References

Blair, R., & Mitchell, D.. (2009). Psychopathy, attention and emotion. Psychological Medicine, 39(4), 543-555. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID:1706788781).

Donald R Lynam, & Thomas A Widiger. (2007). USING A GENERAL MODEL OF PERSONALITY TO IDENTIFY THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF PSYCHOPATHY. Journal of Personality Disorders, 21(2), 160-78. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1261933781).

Falsani, C. (2009). The Dude Abides: The Gospel According To The Coen Brothers. (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.

Hare, R., & Neumann, C.. (2009). Psychopathy: Assessment and Forensic Implications. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(12), 791-802. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1937854551).

Jessica R Klaver, Zina Lee, & Stephen D Hart. (2007). Psychopathy and Nonverbal Indicators of Deception in Offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 31(4), 337-51. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1316465651).

Graf, R., Roybal, M. (Producers) & Coen J. & E. (Directors) (2007) No Country For Old Men [Motion picture]. United States: Miramax & Paramount Vantage

Stephen Porter, & Michael Woodworth. (2007). "I'm Sorry I did it ... but He Started it": A Comparison of The Official and Self-Reported Homicide Descriptions of Psychopaths and Non-Psychopaths. Law and Human Behavior, 31(1), 91-107. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1222223611).

Zach Walsh, & David S. Kosson. (2007). Psychopathy and Violent Crime: A Prospective Study of the Influence of Socioeconomic Status and Ethnicity. Law and Human Behavior, 31(2), 209-29. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1238683421).