Diagnosing a psychopath…

Psychopathyology is not recognized as an official disorder, but the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) categoriese psychopaths or sociopaths under the term antisocial personality disorder. The DSM states that a psychopath ‘exhibit impairments in personality functioning and pathological personality traits.' For example, they may be egocentric, manipulative and show a lack of empathy.

 

Canadian psychologist Robert Hare (1970s) developed a 20-question psychopathy checklist as a way to assess whether or not someone is a psychopath based on the presence of specific personality traits and behaviours.

A revised version of the test is still widely used, though several analysises of studies suggest it performs no better than chance at predicting violent behaviour reducing its validity.

 

The Hare Psychopathy Checklist consist of 20 questions, originally divided in 3 categories; factor 1- interpersonal, factor 2- lifestyle and other items- including relationships.

It is used for psychiatric evaluations as well as for personnel selection. It is considered a reliable indicator of psychopathy and it indicates when a full evaluation would be useful, however cannot be used to reliably or accurately disgnose an individual witjh a personality disorder.

The checklist is used as a rough screen and is used in law enforcement and other areas to detect the possible presence of psychopathy and to manage risk for criminal or violent behaviour.

The Hare Psychopathy Checklist was originally developed for adult males, but due to the discovery that psychopathic symptoms can arise during childhood as well, Robert Hare developed the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version.

 

This has 20 items and is used by experts to assess the interpersonal, behavioural and affective aspects of psychopathy in 12 to 18-year-olds. Like the origional,  an interview as well as background information is vital to completing the assessment. There is also an 'Antisocial Process Screening Device' to detect such things in young populations with the aim of taking preventative measures and averting problems later. The parents fill out a form, as well as teacher s and other relevant people who have sufficient knowledge of the child.

the 20 questions consits of these topic areas to reassure that all aspects of personality disorder:

 

1. GLIB AND SUPERFICIAL CHARM

2. GRANDIOSE ESTIMATION OF SELF

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION

4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING

5. CUNNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS

6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT

7. SHALLOW EFFECT (SUPERFICIAL EMOTIONAL RESPONSIVENESS)

8. CALLOUSNESS AND LACK OF EMPATHY

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS

11. SEXUAL PROMISCUITY

12. EARLY BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

13. LACK OF REALISTIC LONG TERM GOALS

14. IMPULSIVITY

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY FOR OWN ACTIONS

17. MANY SHORT TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS IS A LINK TO A TEST BASED UOPN THE HARE PSYCHOPATHY CHECKLIST:

http://vistriai.com/psychopathtest/