NCJ Number
87661
Date Published
1981
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses the application of the clinical concept of psychopathy to the assessment of offender dangerousness and prediction of violence.
Abstract
Accurate predictions of violence are difficult to make; the clinical concept of psychopathy should be applied when attempts are made to assess dangerousness or predict violence. Many psychopaths are not persistently aggressive and violent, and they manage to satisfy their needs with wit, charm, and manipulation. Most of the psychopaths who end up in prison, however, have some history of violent behavior. Psychopathy is probably not associated with any particular type of family background or early experiences. Among the many reasons violence is difficult to predict is the low base rate for violence that exists in most populations, incluing criminal ones. However, a recent study of the relationship between violence and psychopathy which was conducted with 243 white male inmates revealed 2 types of profiles for which future violent behavior can be accurately predicted. One type included 11 psychopaths who scored above the mean on each violence factor considered, with a particularly high score for intimidation with weapons. The other type included 12 psychopaths who were extremely violent; most of them had many previous convictions for assault and armed robbery. Based on much research, Kozol concluded that the best predictor of violence is the intuitive feeling of the clinician that the individual is cold, aloof, emotionally distant, and without regard for others. Four tables, 4 figures, and 37 references are provided.