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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. How well do psychopaths get along with one another?

2. How does the author feel about films that allow identification with psychopaths?

3. What was Elsa's first clue to Dan's criminal activity?

4. How did a psychopathic thief believe that his victims were better off?

5. Why were second-degree murder charges against Roxanne Murray dropped?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why has the author determined not to devote much of his book to psychodynamic, unconscious processes of psychopathy?

3. How was Jeffrey able to override any suspicions Elyse should have had about him?

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

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

6. What distinguishes psychopaths from the mentally ill?

7. How do psychopaths tend to view themselves in relation to others?

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

9. What does William March list as some reasons good people do not readily recognize psychopathy?

10. How do normal criminals become involved in a criminal lifestyle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Pinel described psychopathy as "insanity without delirium," and psychopaths as "morally insane." Do you think there is a distinction between moral insanity and other kinds? Can a case be made that psychopaths are actually psychologically damaged in such a way that they should not be held accountable for their actions? In your essay, take a position for or against this contention and support your position with material from the text.

Essay Topic 2

What is your explanation for the public's glamorization of criminals? Do you accept the theory that the public can play out illicit behavior without personal cost by identifying with criminals onscreen? Do you think that people always root for an underdog, and that an individual out of sync with the larger system is always an underdog? Explain your theory for the attraction of evil and support your theory with examples and information from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think psychopaths do not normally get along with one another? Do you think they can recognize others who are like them? What makes you think so or not? In your essay, provide evidence for your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

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