Hare psychopathy checklist trial#

Types of affect include: flat (inanimate, no expression), blunted (minimally responsive), inappropriate (incongruous expressions of emotion relative to the content of a conversation), and labile (sudden and abrupt changes in type and intensity of emotion).įorensic -Pertaining to courtroom procedure or evidence used in courts of law. KEY TERMSĪffect -The expression of emotion displayed to others through facial expressions, hand gestures, tone of voice, etc. The material thus covers two key aspects that help define the psychopath: selfish and unfeeling victimization of other people, and an unstable and antisocial lifestyle. The items cover the nature of the subject’s interpersonal relationships his or her affective or emotional involvement responses to other people and to situations evidence of social deviance and lifestyle. During the evaluation, the clinician scores 20 items that measure central elements of the psychopathic character. The Hare PCL-R contains two parts, a semi-structured interview and a review of the subject’s file records and history. Some critics, however, are more skeptical about its value. Many studies conducted in North America and Europe attest to the value of the PCL-R for evaluating a person’s degree of psychopathic traits and, in many cases, for predicting the likelihood of future violent behavior.

The final rating would then be determined by averaging their scores. It is also a good idea, if possible, for two experts to independently test a subject with the PCL-R. Because the results are used so often in legal cases, those who administer it should be qualified to serve as expert witnesses in the courtroom. Other recommendations include experience working with convicted or accused criminals or several years of some other related on-the-job training. Professionals who administer the diagnostic examination should have advanced degrees (MD, PhD, or D.Ed) in a medical, behavioral or social science field and registered with a reputable organization that oversees psychiatric or psychological testing and diagnostic procedures. Therefore, the test must be administered by professionals who have been specifically trained in its use and who have a wide-ranging and up-to-date familiarity with studies of psychopathy. It has important implications for a person and for his or her associates in family, clinical and forensic settings. Precautionsĭiagnosing someone as a psychopath is a very serious step. The results of the examination have been used in forensic settings as a factor in deciding the length and type of prison sentences and the treatment subjects should or should not receive. Because psychopaths, however, are often repeat offenders who commit sexual assaults or other violent crimes again and again, the PCL-R is now finding use in the courtroom and in institutions as an indicator of the potential risk posed by subjects or prisoners.

Developed in the early 1990s, the test was originally designed to identify the degree of a person’s psychopathic tendencies. The PCL-R is used for diagnosing psychopathy in individuals for clinical, legal or research purposes. Recent experience suggests that the PCL-R may also be used effectively to diagnose sex offenders as well as female and adolescent offenders.

Hare psychopathy checklist trial#

The Hare checklist is still used to diagnose members of the original population for which it was developed-adult males in prisons, criminal psychiatric hospitals, and awaiting psychiatric evaluations or trial in other correctional and detention facilities. It is accepted by many in the field as the best method for determining the presence and extent of psychopathy in a person. Originally designed to assess people accused or convicted of crimes, the PCL-R consists of a 20-item symptom rating scale that allows qualified examiners to compare a subject’s degree of psychopathy with that of a prototypical psychopath. The symptoms of psychopathy include lack of a conscience or sense of guilt lack of empathy egocentricity pathological lying repeated violations of social norms disregard for the law shallow emotions and a history of victimizing others. Psychopaths are people who prey ruthlessly on others using charm, deceit, violence or other methods that allow them to get with they want. The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is a diagnostic tool used to rate a person’s psychopathic or antisocial tendencies.