ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors present research findings and discuss their implications for conceptualizing and assessing female psychopathy. The Psychopathy Checklists have been used extensively with male offenders; there has been less research with women. Gender-linked differences in the base rates for specific Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 personality disorders and antisocial, criminal, and violent behavior suggest that the expression of psychopathy varies as a function of gender. Psychopathy may be considered an extreme variant of behavioral and personality variables seen in all people and it is expected that psychopathy would present differently as a function of gender. Clinicians less familiar with female psychopathy may overvalue the quality or depth of her affective life and interpersonal relationships, resulting in an overestimation of the inmate's capacity for empathy. The knowledge base is increasing; the study of female psychopathy is in its infancy.
