Identifying a Psychopath

This is perhaps the most important theme in the entire book. Hare spends over half of the book emphasizing the importance of correct diagnoses and evaluation of psychopathy. The development and evolution of the Psychopathy Checklist is the first step in finding a scientific, valid tool in which to measure psychopathy.

The Psychopathy Checklist incorporates the following criteria for identifying a Psychopath: glib and superficial, egocentric and grandiose, lack of emphathy, lack of remorse or guilt, deceitful and manipulative, shallow emotions, impulsive, poor behavior controls, need for excitement, lack of responsibility, early behavior problems, and adult antisocial behavior.

Some of the characteristics that Hare outlines are very interesting because they seem like "normal" social behaviors that many people experience at one point in their life. For example, there might be a young teenage boy who in early adolescence displays behaviors of juvenile delinquency, but is able...