Who is the Psychopath?

Abstract

This paper describes different approaches to the problem of the classification of psychopathy. It thus draws attention to a paradox in the approach of professional workers to patients suffering from the disorder. This is that, although psychopathy is often considered, by definition, to be untreatable, professional staff often continue to treat psychopaths. This in turn means either that those with experience of the condition do not regard it as untreatable, or that the professional staff are displaying psychopathic characteristics themselves by giving treatment knowing it to be ineffective.