[BartSimpson]

Hare's Psychopathy Checklist

1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example. >

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.

4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING -- can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.

6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT -- a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one's victims.

7. SHALLOW AFFECT -- emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.

8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY -- a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE -- an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.

11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR -- a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.

12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS -- a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.

13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS -- an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.

14. IMPULSIVITY -- the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY -- repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS -- a failure to accept responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.

17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS -- a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY -- behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE -- a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY -- a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.

[BartSimpson]

This is an assessment that came out of Canada and I got to learn about it today. It is part of the standard for assessing inmates in the California prison system and the background is pretty impressive.

I suppose I find it ironic that while Canadians are highly critical of our prison system it was a Canadian who contributed significantly to making the system safer than it was before inmates were separated by psychopathic propensity.

[Tricks]

Don't mention it to Sociologists, they hate the Checklist. If they really wanted to be invasive, they could conduct brain scans. Psychopathology is an extreme form of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Studies have shown to have physical differences in the brain of those with either APD or Psychopathology. The amygdala was found to be smaller, it's the base of emotion in the brain.

[BartSimpson]

Tricks wrote:

Don't mention it to Sociologists, they hate the Checklist. If they really wanted to be invasive, they could conduct brain scans. Psychopathology is an extreme form of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Studies have shown to have physical differences in the brain of those with either APD or Psychopathology. The amygdala was found to be smaller, it's the base of emotion in the brain.

I think 'APD' is a NATO service medal...

[Tricks]

BartSimpson wrote:

Tricks wrote:

Don't mention it to Sociologists, they hate the Checklist. If they really wanted to be invasive, they could conduct brain scans. Psychopathology is an extreme form of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Studies have shown to have physical differences in the brain of those with either APD or Psychopathology. The amygdala was found to be smaller, it's the base of emotion in the brain.

I think 'APD' is a NATO service medal...

ASPD works too.

[andyt]

There is no brain scan that will reveal psychopaty. The differences are on a range - they can't point to a given scan and say that's a psychopath. And it's not just the amygdala.

And Bart, those are all factors to consider, it's not a scale from one to 20.

Quote:

And there's this: Because an individual's score may have important consequences for his or her future, and because the potential for harm if the test is used or administered incorrectly is considerable, Hare argues that the test should only be considered valid if administered by a suitably qualified and experienced clinician under controlled and licensed conditions.

Each factor is rated 0,1 or 2. And then there is further analysis done on which factors interplay. I sure hope you're not the one administering this test.

[Tricks]

andyt wrote:

There is no brain scan that will reveal psychopaty. The differences are on a range - they can't point to a given scan and say that's a psychopath.

I never said there was, nice twist though. I said there is a direct correlation between the condition and significant brain differences.

[BartSimpson]

andyt wrote:

I sure hope you're not the one administering this test.

No, but I did receive it as part of a more extensive evaluation.

Had the whole physiological monitoring thing going on and got quirky looks when I didn't react to 'offensive' pictures. Had to explain that I'm just sort of numb to a lot of things anymore, it doesn't mean I'm insensitive, it just means you bawl your eyes out over some things enough times that you get to where you don't let it bother you anymore.

I also don't flinch at getting shot at. At this point I figure if I can hear it and not feel it then I'm fine so why worry about it?