Forensic Psychology For Dummies
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Robert Hare's Psychopathy checklist is a tool commonly used in clinical practice to assess whether an individual is a psychopath. Here are Hare’s definitions of two types of psychopath:

  • Selfish, callous psychopaths

    • Glibly, but superficially charming

    • Grandiose feeling of how important s/he is

    • Pathological liar – lies when there is no need to

    • Manipulates others, cunning

    • Lacks remorse or any feelings of guilt

    • Does not really feel strongly about anything

    • Lacks empathy

    • Does not accept responsibility for his/her actions

  • Deviant psychopaths

    • Easily bored, needs excitement

    • Feeds off other people

    • No realistic, long-term goals

    • Impulsive

    • Irresponsible

    • Lack of control over actions

    • Behavioural problems in childhood

    • Juvenile delinquency

    • Different types of offending

    • Abuses any conditions set by the courts

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David Canter, the world-leading crime psychologist, is perhaps most widely known as one of the pioneers of 'Offender Profiling', being the first to introduce its use to the UK. He subsequently founded the discipline of Investigative Psychology and is now Director of the International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology.

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