“A timely and seminal piece of work that will interest both experts and novices to the field alike. The editors are respected and well published in their related fields of antisocial behavior and psychopathy....The international representation among individual chapter authors and within the reviewed data adds to the breadth of data presented. Another salient feature of this book is its successful blend of comprehensiveness with ease of reading. This book succinctly covers highly complex and up-to-date literature, and Salekin and Lynam have edited it in a way that avoids losing the reader in an abyss of technical jargon. Suggestions for future research directions are detailed throughout the text, with the clear intention of inspiring researchers to pursue neglected and emerging areas of research on youth psychopathy. Salekin and Lynam have edited a book that is based on sound empirical findings and theoretical understandings of youth psychopathy with the purpose of advancing the field—rather than presenting idealistic and pretentious ideas masked in scientific rhetoric. The book is also well balanced by addressing key issues from multiple theoretical perspectives (i.e., genetic, developmental, environmental) and dominant conceptualizations of psychopathy....Salekin and Lynam ensure that gender and ethnicity-focused research is addressed whenever possible....An excellent summary of the latest science and practice related to youth psychopathy. It elegantly provides a comprehensive overview of key conceptual, etiological, assessment, and applied issues to further scientific understanding of psychopathy in children and adolescents....Each chapter presents its own well-articulated summary of the existing literature on youth psychopathy....An important resource for academics, researchers, practitioners, and students of all levels and is a highly recommended resource.”

—Criminal Justice and Behavior


“Quite comprehensive....A great overview of youth psychopathy for professionals wanting to extend their knowledge base or graduate students wanting to learn about psychopathy in children and adolescents.”

—PsycCRITIQUES


“Thanks to improvements in assessment and research, a great deal has been learned about psychopathy in children and adolescents. This first-rate handbook provides the latest answers to such questions as whether the disorder definitively exists in youth, and whether (and how) it is treatable. Well informed and well written, this is a valuable resource for the full range of trainees and professionals working with youth with disruptive behavior disorders.”

—Philip C. Kendall, PhD, ABPP, Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology, Temple University


“Salekin and Lynam score big with this handbook. Although psychopathy in children and adolescents remains a controversial topic, this volume lays out the theoretical and empirical foundations for its development and expression. The book addresses classification and assessment, the disorder's complex etiology and course, its unfortunate cost to society, and emerging but highly promising treatments. Advancing a developmental psychopathology framework, this is a splendid work whose time has come.”

—Thomas H. Ollendick, PhD, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director, Child Study Center, Virginia Tech


“A superb volume with chapters from the leading experts on childhood and adolescent psychopathy. Without question, this book is now the authoritative reference on the topic, and is likely to be consulted by researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students for years to come. Extremely impressive in its scholarship and scope of coverage, and highly recommended.”

—Scott O. Lilienfeld, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University


“This innovative work presents the very latest and best science on the highly controversial issue of a psychopathic syndrome in children. It is a unique source of evidence-based insights into how psychopathic behavior affects children's development, what causes it, how to assess it, and how to effectively treat it. This is a 'must read' for researchers, clinicians, and advanced students in criminology, clinical psychology, and child psychiatry. No other book treats this challenging topic with such authority and sensitivity.”

—Terrie E. Moffitt, PhD, Knut Schmidt Nielsen Professor, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University


“The scientific and applied foundations of 'psychopathy' in children and adolescents have been vigorously debated. The Salekin and Lynam volume is a very welcome addition to this discussion. Developmentally sensitive, empirically informed, and clinically relevant, this book will be of great interest to researchers, clinicians, legal professionals, and policymakers concerned with antisocial behavior in youth.”

—Kirk Heilbrun, PhD, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, Drexel University