ABSTRACT
Psychopathy is a personality disorder defined by a cluster of interpersonal, affective, and lifestyle characteristics that results in serious, negative consequences for society. Among the most devastating features of the disorder are a callous disregard for the rights of others and a propensity for predatory behaviour and violence. Following a brief discussion of the clinical concept of psychopathy and its assessment, I focus on the empirical literature on its association with crime and violence, the key role psychopathy plays in the new generation of risk assessment tools, and the implications of new research on the issue of its treatability.
