Psychopathy and Law – A Practitioner′s Guide

Psychopathy and Law: A Practitioner's Guide provides those working in the fields of law, the military, social and health services, politics, and business with a comprehensive introduction to psychopathy and the ways of thinking that guide the psychopathic mind. * Features case examples and - unique from previous texts in the field - links these to theory and empirical research * Represents an up-to-date resource for scientists examining psychopathy * Covers issues that have never been dealt with in regard to psychopathy, including those relating to families, civil law, war crimes, economical crimes and organized crimes

Table of Contents:
About the Editors xi About the Contributors xiii Preface xix 1 Introduction 1 Helina Hakkanen-Nyholm and Jan-Olof Nyholm The Nature of Psychopathy 1 Short History 5 Measurement 5 Practical Application and Study Populations 7 Future Directions 8 The Structure of This Text 9 References 12 2 Assessment 17 Michael J. Vitacco, David A. Lishner, and Craig S. Neumann Psychometric Properties of PCL Instruments 19 Psychopathy and the Law: Focus on the Insanity Defense 22 Potential Misuses of PCL Instruments in Legal Proceedings 25 Admissibility of PCL Instruments in Adversarial Proceedings 27 Ethical Issues with PCL Measures and Predicting Risk 29 Myths Associated with Psychopathy 30 Summary and Conclusions 32 References 32 3 Psychopathy and Brain Function: Empirical Findings and Legal Implications 39 Christopher Patrick, Noah C. Venables, and Jennifer Skeem Introduction 39 Diagnostic Distinctions 40 Brain Measurement Techniques 43 Neuroimaging Studies of Psychopathy 45 Electrocortical Studies of Psychopathy 60 Key Assumptions in Research on Brain Function in Psychopathy That Constrain Stability, Interpretation, and Practical Utility of Findings 65 Acknowledgements 70 References 71 4 Cognition Emotion Interactions in Psychopathy: Implications for Theory and Practice 79 Arielle R. Baskin-Sommers and Joseph P. Newman Theoretical Perspectives on Psychopathy 80 Practical Issues in Psychopathy 86 Judicial Practice: Culpability and Post-incarceration Release 88 Treatment 91 References 92 5 Psychopathy inWomen: Presentation, Assessment, and Management 99 Caroline Logan and Ghitta Weizmann-Henelius Introduction 99 The Construct of Psychopathy and Its Presence inWomen 100 How PsychopathicWomen Present 104 The Practical Management ofWomenWith Psychopathic Traits 112 Future Directions in Practice and Research 118 References 120 6 Psychopathic Features in Adolescence 127 Nina Lindberg Personality Disorder in Adolescence 127 The Relationship of Psychopathic Traits in Childhood and AdolescenceWith Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder 128 Biological Factors 128 Psychosocial Factors 130 Psychopathic Traits and Juvenile Criminality 130 Stability of Psychopathic Traits 131 On Treatment 133 References 134 7 Psychopathy and Violent Crime 139 Mary Ellen O Toole and Helina Hakkanen-Nyholm Psychological Analyses of Violent Behavior 141 Psychopathy and Law Enforcement 142 Base Rate of Psychopathy in Criminals 143 Crime-related Behavior 145 How to Identify Psychopaths From a Pool of Suspects 149 Concluding Remarks 152 References 152 8 Predatory Violence and Psychopathy 159 J. Reid Meloy The Science of Predatory Violence 160 Measurement 163 Predatory Violence and the Psychopath 165 Legal and Judicial Issues 168 TheWay Forward: Future Research and Applications 170 References 171 9 Psychopathy in Economical Crime, Organized Crime, andWar Crimes 177 Helina Hakanen-Nyholm and Jan-Olof Nyholm Economical Crime 179 Organized Crime 183 War Crimes 192 Future Research and Practical Applications 197 References 199 10 Forever a Psychopath? Psychopathy and the Criminal Career Trajectory 201 Julia Shaw and Stephen Porter Introduction 201 Psychopathy in Children and Youth 205 Violent Offending 209 Sex Offending 212 Conclusion 214 References 214 11 Psychopathy in Prisons 223 Hannu Lauerma Introduction 223 The Offending Psychopath and Society 224 Psychopathy and the Prison Staff 226 Psychiatric Care 228 Measures Against Psychopathic Behavior 232 References 234 12 Psychopathy in Families: Implications for Clinical Interviews and Civil Proceedings 235 Helina Hakkanen-Nyholm Intimate Relationships 237 Parenthood 245 Working with Psychopaths in a Clinical Setting 248 Manifestation of Psychopathy in Civil Proceedings 251 References 256 13 Interpersonal Aspects and Interviewing Psychopaths 261 Jan-Olof Nyholm and Helina Hakkanen-Nyholm Introduction 261 The Psychopath s Interpersonal Behavior 264 Deception and Manipulation 267 Threat of Violence 272 Practical Tips for Interviewing Psychopathic Individuals 273 References 279 Index 287

About the Author :
Helina Hakkanen-Nyholm is CEO of PsyJuridica Ltd., and an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Psychology at the University of Helsinki. She has published over 40 scientific papers on issues relating to psychopathy, violent crime, interview and risk assessment, and is the editor of the first Finnish textbook on psychopathy, Psykopatia. Jan-Olof Nyholm is a founding member and the Chairman of PsyJurdica Ltd. He has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement (both at an international and national level), and has published several works on psychopathy and interviewing.

Review :
This book is essential reading for anyone who is involved in providing or utilising expert witness evidence in cases pertaining to individuals with psychopathic traits. (The Psychologist, 1 January 2013)