“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