ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the neurobiological underpinnings of psychopathy; a personality syndrome characterized by the callous, manipulative, and sometimes blatantly antisocial treatment of others. Psychopathy has been described as a “socially devastating disorder” and indeed these individuals tend to leave chaos and devastation in their wake (Hare, 1996, p. 25). We will review research focused on examining the neurological correlates of typical psychopathic characteristics in an attempt to elucidate the neurobiology of evil. Though the majority of research investigating psychopathy has done so in a criminal population, a new research movement has emerged that is focused on investigating successful psychopaths. These individuals are able to evade prison by engaging in behavior that is legal, though immoral, parasitic, and self-serving in nature, or by engaging in legal behavior in such a way as to not be caught. This chapter will also review the neurobiological research which helps to differentiate which psychopaths will be “successful” and which ones will not.
