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... > social science subjects > criminology and criminal justice > criminology > law and society > psychology and law > psychopathy and sociopathy
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > law and courts > law and society > psychology and law > psychopathy and sociopathy

Preferred term

psychopathy and sociopathy  

Definition

  • Psychopathy is a disorder of the personality—an enduring psychological disturbance beginning early in life and persisting throughout the life span. Traditionally, scholars have described psychopaths as individuals who lack empathy, loyalty, and guilt and who engage in persistent antisocial, impulsive, and irresponsible behavior.Psychopaths are not typically below average intelligence, but rather seem unable to use their intelligence to learn from mistakes. [Source: Encyclopedia of Law & Society: American and Global Perspectives; Psychopathy and Sociopathy]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/psychopathy_and_sociopathy

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