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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Upon what two abilities does conscience depend?
(a) The ability to obey and reason.
(b) The ability to imagine consequences and talk to oneself.
(c) The ability to comprehend society's priorities and live by them.
(d) The ability to overrule foolish desires.

2. What characteristics make psychopaths unsuitable for dangerous jobs?
(a) Perfectionism and attention to detail.
(b) Adrenaline addiction.
(c) Fear and trepidation.
(d) Unpredictability and carelessness.

3. What was incongruous about the red button in the psychologist's office in British Columbia Penitentiary?
(a) You could push it, but it indicated weakness on your part.
(b) You could push it in an emergency, but it did not work.
(c) It was designed to simulate a real call button.
(d) You could push it in an emergency but not expect help.

4. What was the verdict in the case of Edward Gein?
(a) He was found to be psychotic.
(b) He was found to be marginally accountable.
(c) He was found to be psychopathic.
(d) He was found to be legally sane.

5. What is the author's objective in writing this book?
(a) To help mislabelled psychopaths get out of prison.
(b) To help people better understand psychopathy.
(c) To help people diagnose the psychopaths they may know.
(d) To help people escape from psychopathic interaction.

6. What psychopath does the author claim commanded a nation?
(a) Stalin.
(b) Hitler.
(c) Pol Pot.
(d) Idi Amin.

7. How does the author feel about films that allow identification with psychopaths?
(a) They are cathartic, releasing our interest in evil without doing harm.
(b) They are silly and have no connection with reality.
(c) They are powerful role models for people with problems.
(d) They are helpful diagnostic tools.

8. What did John Wayne Gacy say about his career murdering thirty-three people?
(a) "They all deserved to die."
(b) "It was another person inside of me."
(c) "I was the victim."
(d) "I don't know what came over me."

9. What often impresses people about psychopaths' discussion of technical subjects?
(a) Concern about being revealed as phony.
(b) Multiple university degrees.
(c) Wide-ranging interests.
(d) Confident use of technical jargon and concepts.

10. Why do socio-biologists claim that the number of psychopaths must be increasing?
(a) Psychopaths make other people psychopathic.
(b) Social problems that lead to psychopathy are increasing.
(c) Psychopaths are being more accurately diagnosed.
(d) Psychopaths produce large numbers of children.

11. How did Ray trap the author by showing him a knife?
(a) Ray forced the author to obey him.
(b) Ray established that the author would not turn him in.
(c) Ray coerced the author into pleading his case.
(d) Ray made the author a conspirator in his stabbing.

12. What was Elsa's first clue to Dan's criminal activity?
(a) He had an unusual amount of money.
(b) He confessed to minor thievery.
(c) He had cases of unwrapped tape recorders and TVs.
(d) She saw his picture in the post office.

13. What is the typical cause of a psychopath's criminal activity?
(a) His upbringing.
(b) Boredom.
(c) His character structure.
(d) Negative social conditions

14. Why are murderers often given early parole?
(a) Murderers can demonstrate good behavior.
(b) Murderers can fake remorse.
(c) Homicide is typically unlikely to be repeated.
(d) Murderers can con parole boards.

15. How does the author describe the psychopath's typical lifestyle?
(a) Driven.
(b) Unstable and aimless.
(c) Focused and intense.
(d) Planned and organized.

Short Answer Questions

1. What term is often inappropriately applied to psychopaths?

2. What was the first thing the author noticed about Ray when he met him?

3. What is the difficulty in using empathy, egocentricity, or guilt as determinants in a diagnosis?

4. Why are most studies of psychopathy done in prisons?

5. How did Clifford Olson become rich?

(see the answer keys)

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