Dr. Hare is considered a leading expert in the field of psychopathy. Working out of UBC he’s a local as well. He developed one of the few diagnostic tools to evaluate whether someone is a psychopathic personality. Please don’t use this checklist to ‘diagnose’ friends or loved ones, etc. Even as someone trained in the process of administering diagnostic tests and diagnosis I don’t feel I could use this checklist to make an accurate assessment of an individual without getting to know them well in a clinical setting or having accumulated reliable clinical data.

It would be relatively accurate if the person you are using it to diagnose is yourself and your honest with the process.

When properly completed by a qualified professional, it provides a total score that indicates how closely the test subject matches the “perfect” score that a classic or prototypical psychopath would rate. Each of the twenty items is given a score of 0, 1, or 2 based on how well it applies to the subject being tested, 0 meaning clearly absent, 2 meaning clearly present, 1 being somewhat present - applies in a limited sense. A prototypical psychopath would receive a maximum score of 40, while someone with absolutely no psychopathic traits or tendencies would receive a score of zero. A score of 30 or above qualifies a person for a diagnosis of psychopathy. I would say someone scoring in the 20-30 range would have strong psychopathic tendencies/traits even though diagnosis was not met.

Hare’s Checklist

1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM — the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH — a grossly inflated view of one’s abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM — an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.

4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING — can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one’s victims.

6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT — a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one’s victims.

7. SHALLOW AFFECT — emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.

8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY — a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE — an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS — expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.

11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR — a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.

12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS — a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.

13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS — an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.

14. IMPULSIVITY — the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY — repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS — a failure to accept responsibility for one’s actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.

17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS — a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY — behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE — a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY — a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.

If many of these behaviors strike a chord with you, either in your own behavior or in the behavior of someone in your life, you shouldn’t be surprised. Some experts in the field believe that it’s possible as high as 1 in 10 men are psychopaths, and 1 in 20 women. Though those numbers seem a little high to me. There are other statistics that put the rate of psychopathy as 1 in 100 people in the population, I’m more inclined towards the accuracy of the latter. Regardless, it’s prevelence is such that it’s pretty much guaranteed you know, or have known, or will know a psychopath in your life.

I think the confusion often comes from popular media, we think of all psychopaths as being violent serial killers. The reality is most psychopaths if involved in criminal activities are con artists, thieves, etc. There are also many more psychopaths who avoid criminal activity altogether and find their personality and skills makes them very successful in some business circles. For instance Dr. Hare describes the psychopathic entrepreneur as “thinks big,” but it’s usually with someone else’s money. The most likely place you’re to encounter a psychopath would be in a position of power in your work place. Most of us, don’t recognize the psychopaths around us when we encounter them. They are very very good at appearing normal and being very charismatic. Always look at the ‘big picture’ and don’t ignore things that come up that rub you the wrong way. Psychopaths are basically seen as incurable by many. If they are clearly diagnosed and highly psychopathic, change is unlikely. They may learn to hide better, but actually changing the personality constructs beneath that, unlikely is too mild a word. People who have tendencies, have hope, especially if they are aware of them, and motivated to change. The motivation to change would have to come from the healthy part of them that wants to be healthy and productive. If the motivation to change behavior is simply to avoid the backlash from getting caught in inappropriate behaviors, if it’s selfishly motivated for that person to meet their personal goals/needs, then they’re not learning to be better people, they’re learning to be better psychopaths.

This stuff fascinates me to no end… our inner workings and our interpersonal dynamics. I miss studying psychology. I also miss practicing. One day maybe I’ll hang my shingle up again. If I can get well enough myself. When I worked with the women and violence program it was the best spent hours of my life. Helping to guide others to make positive change and growth within themselves, to empower, and help them find their healing path. Nothing compared to that. The work was hard, but unbelievably rewarding. In an ideal world I’d go back and get my doctorate and study and learn more as well as working as a therapist. I know those dreams are thin and weak. My depression, though controlled and stabilized with medication impairs my cognitive abilities to the extent I don’t feel I can do the work well enough. Also the stress would be such that I probably wouldn’t remain stable long. Now with the fibromyalgia on top of the depression, some of the little hope I had towards regaining enough functioning to do satisfying work, has been largely diminished.

I have found myself encapsulating myself even more in order to maintain the wellness I have. I have the opposite issue that psychopaths have, which psychopaths seem to see as a weakness. I’m highly empathic. I care deeply and strongly for others. To the extent that I internalize conflicts, I take responsibility where I have none to try to ‘fix’ broken situations, or hurt persons. I in part define myself by what I can give and contribute to the world and people around me in a positive fashion. The ‘healer’ inside is hard to repress. I have to try to stay out of the war zones, instead of racing in. I have to learn to be able to put myself first more. Giving is good, but if you give too much and have nothing left for yourself, then you’re out of resources to keep sharing.

It’s just frustrating that I’ve been so ill for so many years, and now this new issue of fibromyalgia on top of that, that I’ve felt as if for so long now I’ve been incapable of giving much, I’ve been forced to become a ‘taker’ to rely on Wolfe to do things for me, to not have the ability to do for others as much as I’d like to do. It’s not healthy for who I am, I need to be contributing to society more. I miss it. Once we’re settled into our new place and once I have learned a bit more what my limitations are physically, I’m going to look into seeing if I can do some kind of volunteer work in my capacity, I was thinking hospice work might be possible for me. To just sit and spend time with others who are much more ill than I. Even if I can only do an hour here or there, I think it would be something I would get a lot out of.

Anyways, enough out of me, my infected finger is yelling at me for typing so much.

Live in Love
Leila

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