Psychopath

Little is known about the minds of psychopaths and what really lies behind the horrific things they do. Following criminal psychologist professor Robert Hare, this documentary set out to find a possible explanation to the underlying neurology problems of the psychopathic mind.

According to newer studies, psychopaths make up about 1 percent of the general population and as much as 25 percent of male offenders in federal correctional settings.

Although psychopathic inmates are four times as likely to re-offend than other released prisoners, they are also just as likely to get parole. Why is there such a difference? What drives the psychopathic mind?

According to criminal psychologist professor Robert D. Hare we should look to the brain for answers. Throughout this documentary, we’ll get a glimpse into the neurological conditions of being a psychopath, witness psychopathic behaviour and perhaps get a deeper understanding into the mental works behind it.

The entirety of the documentary takes a look at the ways we examine criminal psychology behind extreme cases.

We’ll get to see the Psychopathy Checklist in action; a psychological tool developed by professor Hare to evaluate patients. It is a 20-item inventory of perceived personality traits and recorded behaviors, intended to be completed on the basis of a semi-structured interview along with a review of ‘collateral information’ such as official records.

Furthermore, to evaluate the psychology behind a psychopath, the documentary conducts IQ tests and investigates the notion of “blending in” with social norms. A person devoid of emotions learning to live in a society.

Finally, it also takes a look at the very strange phenomenon that treatment programmes make psychopaths re-offend earlier and more aggressively.

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Psychopath
  • Info
  • Release date2015
  • Full runtime
  • Director(s)John Purdie
  • Production companyUnion Pictures