Robert D. Hare, Ph.D., is considered one of the world's foremost experts in the area of psychopathy and he is the author of the popular book Without Conscience.
Dr. Hare is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, and has researched psychopathy for more than twenty years. The following is his well-known and implemented psychopathy checklist.
For each characteristic that is listed, the subject is given a score: 0 for "no," 1 for "somewhat," and 2 for "definitely does apply." (Please note that Dr. Hare does not advise that the layman use this checklist for "diagnosing" friends and family; this checklist, however, does give you a good idea how it is used).
1. Glibness/superficial charm
2. Grandiose sense of self-worth
3. Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
4. Pathological lying
5. Conning/manipulative
6. Lack of remorse or guilt
7. Shallow affect
8. Callous/lack of empathy
9. Parasitic lifestyle
10. Poor behavioural controls
11. Promiscuous sexual behaviour
12. Early behaviour problems
13. Lack of realistic, long-term plans
14. Impulsivity
15. Irresponsibility
16. Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
17. Many short-term relationships
18. Juvenile delinquency
19. Revocation of conditional release
20. Criminal versatility
Narcissism is also a characteristic
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"don't use to diagnose friends". Ha! This was a dead on diagnosis for an old roommate of mine. Glad that one is long gone. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, that's just so you can't sue him if your old room mate gets shirty with you...
ReplyDeleteThis frightens the heck out of me. Don't want to say too much, but, you know my situation.
ReplyDeleteI can just about tick each box....! Wow!
I'm guilty of brushing things aside. Convincing myself that it is all just a defense mechanism. But, it's not, is it?
You need to take care, Mgt.
ReplyDeleteThat checklist makes up one creepy person.
ReplyDeleteI would find that it would be somewhat hard to diagnose someone who was a psychopath, because I have to say I hide it very well myself. Although I have to say I do carry along all the traits you have listed most people won't see it. Unless I some how let it slip(:
ReplyDelete