The Psychopath

Psychopaths continue to be demonised by the media and estimates suggest that a disturbing percentage of the population has psychopathic tendencies. This timely and controversial new book summarises what we already know about psychopathy and antisocial behavior and puts forward a new case for its cause - with far-reaching implications. Presents the scientific facts of psychopathy and antisocial behavior. Addresses key questions, such as: What is psychopathy? Are there psychopaths amongst us? What is wrong with psychopaths? Is psychopathy due to nature or nurture? And can we treat psychopaths? Reveals the authors' ground-breaking research into whether an underlying abnormality in brain development leaves psychopaths with an inability to feel emotion or fear. The resulting theory could lead to early diagnosis and revolutionize the way society, the media and the state both views and contends with the psychopaths in our midst.

List of figures and tables vi Acknowledgements viii 1 What is Psychopathy? 1 2 The Background Facts 18 3 What is the Ultimate Cause of Psychopathy? 28 4 The Psychopathic Individual: The Functional Impairment 47 5 Cognitive Accounts of Psychopathy 67 6 Neural Accounts of Psychopathy 81 7 A Neurocognitive Account of Reactive Aggression 96 8 A Neurocognitive Account of Psychopathy 110 9 Conundrums and Conclusions 141 References 156 Subject index 187 Author index 196