Psychopathy and Law

Helinä Häkkänen-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.

• About the Editors xi About the Contributors xiiiPreface xix1 Introduction 1Helinä Häkkänen-Nyholm and Jan-Olof NyholmThe Nature of Psychopathy 1Short History 5Measurement 5Practical Application and Study Populations 7Future Directions 8The Structure of This Text 9References 122 Assessment 17Michael J. Vitacco, David A. Lishner, and Craig S. NeumannPsychometric Properties of PCL Instruments 19Psychopathy and the Law: Focus on the Insanity Defense 22Potential Misuses of PCL Instruments in Legal Proceedings 25Admissibility of PCL Instruments in Adversarial Proceedings 27Ethical Issues with PCL Measures and Predicting Risk 29Myths Associated with Psychopathy 30Summary and Conclusions 32References 323 Psychopathy and Brain Function: Empirical Findings and Legal Implications 39Christopher Patrick, Noah C. Venables, and Jennifer SkeemIntroduction 39Diagnostic Distinctions 40Brain Measurement Techniques 43Neuroimaging Studies of Psychopathy 45Electrocortical Studies of Psychopathy 60Key Assumptions in Research on Brain Function in Psychopathy That Constrain Stability, Interpretation, and Practical Utility of Findings 65Acknowledgements 70References 714 Cognition–Emotion Interactions in Psychopathy: Implications for Theory and Practice 79Arielle R. Baskin-Sommers and Joseph P. NewmanTheoretical Perspectives on Psychopathy 80Practical Issues in Psychopathy 86Judicial Practice: Culpability and Post-incarceration Release 88Treatment 91References 925 Psychopathy inWomen: Presentation, Assessment, and Management 99Caroline Logan and Ghitta Weizmann-HeneliusIntroduction 99The Construct of Psychopathy and Its Presence inWomen 100How PsychopathicWomen Present 104The Practical Management ofWomenWith Psychopathic Traits 112Future Directions in Practice and Research 118References 1206 Psychopathic Features in Adolescence 127Nina LindbergPersonality Disorder in Adolescence 127The Relationship of Psychopathic Traits in Childhood and AdolescenceWith Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder 128Biological Factors 128Psychosocial Factors 130Psychopathic Traits and Juvenile Criminality 130Stability of Psychopathic Traits 131On Treatment 133References 1347 Psychopathy and Violent Crime 139Mary Ellen O’Toole and Helinä Häkkänen-NyholmPsychological Analyses of Violent Behavior 141Psychopathy and Law Enforcement 142Base Rate of Psychopathy in Criminals 143Crime-related Behavior 145How to Identify Psychopaths From a Pool of Suspects 149Concluding Remarks 152References 1528 Predatory Violence and Psychopathy 159J. Reid MeloyThe Science of Predatory Violence 160Measurement 163Predatory Violence and the Psychopath 165Legal and Judicial Issues 168TheWay Forward: Future Research and Applications 170References 1719 Psychopathy in Economical Crime, Organized Crime, andWar Crimes 177Helinä Häkänen-Nyholm and Jan-Olof NyholmEconomical Crime 179Organized Crime 183War Crimes 192Future Research and Practical Applications 197References 19910 Forever a Psychopath? Psychopathy and the Criminal Career Trajectory 201Julia Shaw and Stephen PorterIntroduction 201Psychopathy in Children and Youth 205Violent Offending 209Sex Offending 212Conclusion 214References 21411 Psychopathy in Prisons 223Hannu LauermaIntroduction 223The Offending Psychopath and Society 224Psychopathy and the Prison Staff 226Psychiatric Care 228Measures Against Psychopathic Behavior 232References 23412 Psychopathy in Families: Implications for Clinical Interviews and Civil Proceedings 235Helinä Häkkänen-NyholmIntimate Relationships 237Parenthood 245Working with Psychopaths in a Clinical Setting 248Manifestation of Psychopathy in Civil Proceedings 251References 25613 Interpersonal Aspects and Interviewing Psychopaths 261Jan-Olof Nyholm and Helinä Häkkänen-NyholmIntroduction 261The Psychopath’s Interpersonal Behavior 264Deception and Manipulation 267Threat of Violence 272Practical Tips for Interviewing Psychopathic Individuals 273References 279Index 287

“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)