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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What impression do astute observers sometimes get about psychopaths?

2. Upon what two abilities does conscience depend?

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

4. What term is often inappropriately applied to psychopaths?

5. What emotions are the mainsprings of conscience for most people?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has the author mistrusted the results of psychological testing to identify psychopaths?

2. What motivates most people to abide by the rules of society?

3. What factor in Ray's behavior puzzled the author and led him to further study?

4. What distinguishes psychopaths who become criminals?

5. Why has the author decided that it's important to write about the technical topic of psychopathy at a level that the public can understand?

6. Why doesn't the psychopath's need for change and excitement make him a good candidate for dangerous jobs?

7. Why does the author claim it is not surprising that psychopaths commit more violent acts than other criminals?

8. What experience has convinced the author that the public needs to understand psychopathy?

9. What are some important differences between the violent acts of psychopaths and the violent acts of other criminals?

10. Why are psychopathic killers often judged legally sane?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do you feel better prepared as a person for any encounters you may have with psychopathy in your own life after reading this book? In your essay, tell why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining the difficulty with each of the diagnostic methods for identifying psychopathy.

Essay Topic 3

It has been said that "guilt is a blessing, not a curse". Using evidence from the text, write an essay for or against the proposition that guilt is an important, useful tool in our individual lives and social interactions.

(see the answer keys)

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