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“Does an extremely good job of helping us understand the many faces and facets of psychopathy....It highlights the issues and focuses on the evidence without prejudice.”

—PsycCRITIQUES (on the first edition)


“A scholarly, exhaustive examination of psychopathy....The Handbook stands as an authoritative reference....Extraordinary breadth....There are valuable insights for all who research, study, evaluate, and manage these men and women so reviled by society.”

—Criminal Justice and Behavior (on the first edition)


“A comprehensive and well-organized source book for the current state of the science of psychopathy.”

—Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (on the first edition)


“Comprehensive, well written, and informative. I consider it a valuable resource for any young researcher or established scholar interested in improving his or her psychopathy knowledge base.”

—Psychiatric Services (on the first edition)


“Provides an extensive, informative, and exciting review of the current knowledge of psychopathy including its nature, causation, assessment, and issues of treatability....A hugely valuable resource, which provides a wealth of quality and readable information from a range of authors including some of the most senior figures in the field. It deserves to receive wide attention from a range of professionals.”

—Legal and Criminal Psychology (on the first edition)


“The material here will be of substantive interest to clinical and research psychiatrists as well as psychologists, and perhaps to criminologists, specialists in mental health law, and others. I expect to turn to this book again and again.”

—Metapsychology Online Reviews (on the first edition)


“Patrick has assembled an impressive group of authors for this updated second edition. Providing comprehensive coverage of current issues in psychopathy research, the book allows the reader to peer behind the 'mask of sanity.' This is an invaluable A to Z primer on psychopathy that highlights new insights into etiology, culture, gender, ethnicity, development, and more, with each chapter emphasizing avenues for future research. Highly recommended for students, researchers, and clinicians alike.”

—Adelle Forth, PhD, President, Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy; Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada


“An admirably comprehensive and scholarly second edition. Broad in scope—covering theory, manifestations, assessment, etiology, development, subpopulations, treatment, and more—and rich in empirical data, this handbook will be the authoritative resource for years to come. Chapters are written by renowned investigators and clinicians from across the world. A book especially apt for current times, the Handbook is essential reading for clinicians, researchers, attorneys, judges, and social policymakers seeking to understand psychopathy and its place in the spectrum of antisocial behavior and to mitigate its effects on society. I recommend it highly!”

—Andrew E. Skodol, MD, Research Professor of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine


“Patrick has once again succeeded in bringing together the foremost scholars and practitioners on psychopathy. The second edition of the Handbook captures more than a decade of clinical and conceptual advances; about half the chapters are new and others are essentially rewritten. Across chapters, the triarchic model serves as an integrative framework for understanding different conceptualizations of psychopathy and their respective assessment measures. The volume addresses this complex topic with breadth and depth, from etiological explanations to clinical and forensic applications.”

—Richard Rogers, PhD, ABPP, Regents Professor of Psychology, University of North Texas


“Few human phenomena are more intriguing than psychopathy, and few scholarly handbooks have attracted as much interest as this landmark work. In this thoroughly revised and updated second edition, Patrick raises the bar yet again. Particularly welcome is the emphasis on contemporary empirical and multidimensional models of psychopathic traits, a key development since the first edition that is interwoven throughout this edition. A 'must' for the bookshelves of all mental health practitioners and scholars, and suitable for upper-level courses in a variety of disciplines, the Handbook provides thorough and groundbreaking insights that will shape the field for many years to come.”

—Robert F. Krueger, PhD, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota


“Reflecting developments in the field, the second edition of the Handbook focuses less on the syndrome of psychopathy and more on psychopathic traits measured dimensionally in the general population. It includes thorough, thoughtful reviews of current findings that lay the bases for future research. Controversies in the field are not avoided—rather, theories and models are evaluated in light of existing data. The volume addresses assessment and rehabilitation; presents leading formulations of psychopathy; and explains recent advances in our understanding of the etiological mechanisms promoting psychopathy, associated structural and functional neural abnormalities, and corresponding dysfunctions in cognitive and affective processing. This second edition is an indispensable resource for students and faculty researching psychopathy, as well as policymakers, practitioners working with offenders, and legal scholars.”

—Sheilagh Hodgins, PhD, FRSC, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Montréal, Canada


“The encyclopedic range of topics is striking, with the concept of psychopathy evaluated from many different angles. Of particular note is the second edition's consideration of important contemporary developments, including ongoing discussions around definitions of constructs—for example, the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorders, or the role of boldness in the conceptualization of psychopathy. It presents the latest thinking about potential etiological mechanisms, including influences as diverse as neurobiological and cultural factors. The volume offers valuable contributions for practicing clinicians as well as scholars, from early-career to senior professionals.”

—Leslie C. Morey, PhD, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Emeritus), Texas A&M University


“I have used this text at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. At the undergraduate level, this book was appropriate as a stand-alone text for a special topics course in psychopathy. The breadth of material allows the instructor to select specific chapters to use during lectures to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the topic; remaining chapters are an excellent source for student presentations and papers on more specific aspects of psychopathy. At the graduate level, there are several chapters that complement the material normally covered in courses such as criminal behavior, forensic psychology, psychological diagnosis and assessment, tests and measures, biopsychology, social psychology, aggression, violence risk, and threat assessment. Overall, the Handbook succeeds in being rigorous yet accessible. Students are able to relate information from the text to cases in the popular media and concepts in the scientific literature.”

—Richard P. Conti, PhD, Coordinator, Forensic Psychology Programs, and Associate Professor, School of Psychology, Kean University

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Table of Contents

I. Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Psychopathy

1. Psychopathy as Masked Pathology, Christopher J. Patrick

2. Psychopathy, Sociopathy, and Antisocial Personality Disorder, David T. Lykken

Commentary: A Minnesota Perspective on Lykken's "Psychopathy, Sociopathy, and Antisocial Personality Disorder," William G. Iacono

3. The PCL-R Assessment of Psychopathy, Robert D. Hare, Craig S. Neumann, & Andreas Mokros

4. The Response Modulation Hypothesis: Formulation, Development, and Implications for Psychopathy, Rachel Bencic Hamilton & Joseph P. Newman

5. Temperament Risk Factors for Psychopathy, Don C. Fowles

II. Distinct Phenotypic Facets of Psychopathy

6. Externalizing Proneness and Psychopathy, Lindsay D. Nelson & Jens Foell

7. Callous–Unemotional Traits, Essi Viding & Eva R. Kimonis

8. Boldness: Conceptual and Methodological Issues, Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ashley L. Watts, Sarah Francis Smith, & Robert D. Latzman

III. Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychopathy

9. Capturing Psychopathic Personality: Penetrating the Mask of Sanity through Clinical Interview, David J. Cooke & Caroline Logan

10. The Self-Report Assessment of Psychopathy: Challenges, Pitfalls, and Promises, Martin Sellbom, Scott O. Lilienfeld, Katherine A. Fowler, & Kristen L. McCrary

11. Psychopathy and Personality: An Articulation of the Benefits of a Trait-Based Approach, Donald R. Lynam, Joshua D. Miller, & Karen J. Derefinko

12. Psychopathy and DSM-5 Psychopathology, Thomas A. Widiger & Cristina Crego

13. Variants (“Subtypes”) of Psychopathy, Brian M. Hicks & Laura E. Drislane

IV. Etiology and Mechanisms of Psychopathy

14. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Psychopathy and Antisocial Behavior, Irwin D. Waldman, Soo Hyun Rhee, Devon LoParo, & Yunsoo Park

15. Family Background and Psychopathy, David P. Farrington & Henriette Bergstrøm

16. The Neuroanatomical Bases of Psychopathy: A Review of Brain Imaging Findings, Yaling Yang & Adrian Raine

17. Psychopathy and Brain Function: Insights from Neuroimaging Research, R. James R. Blair, Harma Meffert, Soonjo Hwang, & Stuart F. White

18. Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Psychopathy, Christopher J. Patrick

19. Psychopathy and Developmental Pathways to Antisocial Behavior in Youth, Paul J. Frick & Monica A. Marsee

V. Psychopathy in Specific Subpopulations

20. Psychopathy in Children and Adolescents: Assessment and Critical Questions Regarding Conceptualization, Randall T. Salekin, Henrik Andershed, & Abby P. Clark

21. Psychopathy in Women: Assessment, Manifestations, and Etiology, Edelyn Verona & Jennifer Vitale

22. Cultural and Ethnic Variations in Psychopathy, Kostas Fanti, Alexandros Lordos, Elizabeth A. Sullivan, & David S. Kosson

23. Deviance at Its Darkest: Serial Murder and Psychopathy, Eric W. Hickey, Bethany K. Walters, Laura E. Drislane, Isabella M. Palumbo, & Christopher J. Patrick

24. Successful Psychopathy, Stephen D. Benning, Noah C. Venables, & Jason R. Hall

VI. Clinical and Applied Issues in Psychopathy

25. Psychopathy and Aggression, Stephen Porter, Michael T. Woodworth, & Pamela J. Black

26. Psychopathy and Substance Use Disorders, Jarrod M. Ellingson, Andrew K. Littlefield, Alvaro Vergés, & Kenneth J. Sher

27. The Role of Psychopathy in Sexual Coercion against Women: An Update and Expansion, Raymond A. Knight & Jean-Pierre Guay

28. Risk for Criminal Recidivism: The Role of Psychopathy, Kevin S. Douglas, Gina M. Vincent, & John F. Edens

29. Treatment of Adults and Juveniles with Psychopathy, Devon Polaschek & Jennifer L. Skeem

30. Legal and Ethical Issues in the Assessment and Treatment of Psychopathy, John F. Edens, John Petrila, & Shannon E. Kelley

VII. Conclusions and Future Directions

31. Understanding Psychopathy: Where We Are, Where We Can Go, Dustin B. Wygant, Dustin A. Pardini, Abigail A. Marsh, & Christopher J. Patrick

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About the Editor

Christopher J. Patrick, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. His research interests include psychopathy, antisocial behavior, substance abuse, personality, fear and fearlessness, psychophysiology, and affective and cognitive neuroscience, and he is author of more than 270 articles and chapters on these topics. Dr. Patrick is past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy (SSSP) and the Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR), a recipient of Early Career awards from SPR and the American Psychological Association (APA), and a recipient of SSSP’s Lifetime Career Contribution award. He is also a Fellow of APA and of the Association for Psychological Science. Dr. Patrick served as a workgroup member for the Research Diagnostic Criteria initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health and as a scientific advisor to the DSM-5 Personality Disorders Workgroup. He is currently a member of the American Psychiatric Association’s Review Committee for Externalizing Disorders and Personality Disorders, which evaluates proposed changes to DSM-5.

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Contributors

Henrik Andershed, PhD, School of Law, Psychology, and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

Stephen D. Benning, PhD, Departmentof Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Henriette Bergstrøm, PhD, Department of Social Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom

Pamela J. Black, MA, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

R. James R. Blair, PhD, Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska

Abby P. Clark, MA, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

David J. Cooke, PhD, Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

Cristina Crego, MS, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Karen J. Derefinko, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee

Kevin S. Douglas, PhD, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Laura E. Drislane, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

John F. Edens, PhD, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Jarrod M. Ellingson, PhD, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

Kostas A. Fanti, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

David P. Farrington, PhD, Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Jens Foell, PhD, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

Katherine A. Fowler, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Don C. Fowles, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

Paul J. Frick, PhD, Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Jean-Pierre Guay, PhD, School of Criminology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Jason R. Hall, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Rachel Bencic Hamilton, MS, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Robert D. Hare, PhD, Darkstone Research Group and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Eric W. Hickey, PhD, Forensic Psychology PhD Program, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Brian M. Hicks, PhD, Addiction Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Soonjo Hwang, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

William G. Iacono, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Shannon E. Kelley, MS, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Eva R. Kimonis, PhD, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Raymond A. Knight, PhD, Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts

David S. Kosson, PhD, Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois

Robert D. Latzman, PhD, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia

Scott O. Lilienfeld, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Andrew K. Littlefield, PhD, Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Caroline Logan, DPhil, Specialist Services Network, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and University of Manchester,Manchester, United Kingdom

Devon LoParo, MA, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Alexandros Lordos, PhD, Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development, Nicosia, Cyprus

David T. Lykken, PhD (deceased), Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Donald R. Lynam, PhD, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Monica A. Marsee, PhD, Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Abigail A. Marsh, PhD, Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Kristen L. McCrary, PsyD, School of Professional Psychology, Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky

Harma Meffert, PhD, Social Cognition Research Program, Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska

Joshua D. Miller, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Andreas Mokros, DrPhil, Department of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany

Lindsay D. Nelson, PhD, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Craig S. Neumann, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

Joseph P. Newman, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Isabella M. Palumbo, BS, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia

Dustin A. Pardini, PhD, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Yunsoo Park, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Christopher J. Patrick, PhD, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

John Petrila, JD, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Dallas, Texas

Devon L. L. Polaschek, PhD, School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Stephen Porter, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Adrian Raine, PhD, Department of Criminology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Soo Hyun Rhee, PhD, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado

Randall T. Salekin, PhD, Disruptive Behavior Clinic, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Martin Sellbom, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Kenneth J. Sher, PhD, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

Jennifer L. Skeem, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California

Sarah Francis Smith, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Elizabeth A. Sullivan, PhD, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Noah C. Venables, PhD, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Alvaro Vergés, PhD, School of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

Edelyn Verona, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Essi Viding, PhD, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom

Gina M. Vincent, PhD, Center for Mental Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

Jennifer Vitale, PhD, Department of Psychology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

Irwin D. Waldman, PhD, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Bethany K. Walters, BA, California School of Forensic Studies, Alliant International University, Fresno, California

Ashley L. Watts, MA, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Stuart F. White, PhD, Decision-Making Research Program, Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska

Thomas A. Widiger, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Michael T. Woodworth, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Dustin B. Wygant, PhD, Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky

Yaling Yang, PhD, Division of Research on Children, Youth and Families, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

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Audience

Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists; clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and counselors working with justice-involved clients; researchers in the areas of crime, antisocial behavior, and violence. Also of interest to legal professionals.

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Course Use

Serves as a supplemental text in graduate-level courses.

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Previous editions published by Guilford:

First Edition, © 2006
ISBN: 9781593855918

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New to this edition:

• Extensively revised with more than a decade's theoretical, empirical, and clinical advances.
• Many new authors and topics.
• Expanded coverage of phenotypic facets, with chapters on behavioral disinhibition, callous–unemotional traits, and boldness.
• Chapters on DSM-5, clinical interviewing, cognitive and emotional processing, and serial murder.
• Significantly updated coverage of etiology, assessment methods, neuroimaging research, and adult and juvenile treatment approaches.