Is measuring psychopathy as defined by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) the most important single component in assessing risk of offending behaviour and likely response to treatment in offenders?

Abstract

Hare’s (2003) Psychopathy Checklist – Revised (PCL-R) comprises a 20-item checklist designed to assess the clinical construct of psychopathy. There is research to show that the PCL-R has impressive predictive validity for offending behaviour, and this has led some to suggest that psychopathy is the most important single component to measure when assessing risk of offending behaviour and likely response to treatment. Here I consider and critique the evidence for and against this argument.