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Psychopathy and Normal Personality

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Psychopathy: Theory, Research and Implications for Society

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 88))

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the construct of psychopathy from the perspective of normal personality. It will be suggested that psychopathy can be understood as a maladaptive variant of common personality traits. The chapter will begin with a discussion of the constructs of mental and personality disorders, suggesting the absence of a discrete or qualitative point of demarcation between the presence versus absence of a personality disorder. Psychopathy, as a personality disorder, will then be considered from the perspective of a model of normal personality functioning. It will be suggested that the traits of psychopathy (and antisocial personality disorder) can be understood from the perspective of this model, but only the most prototypic cases would display all of the features. The complexity of the psychopathic personality profile and the variability in presentation is important to appreciate when attempting to understand individual cases of psychopathy, to explain variability in findings across different settings and populations, to identify the maladaptivity of the disorder within different social and environmental contexts, and to understand its etiology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA

    Thomas A. Widiger

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  1. Thomas A. Widiger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Douglas Inch Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK

    David J. Cooke

  2. Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

    Adelle E. Forth

  3. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Robert D. Hare

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Widiger, T.A. (1998). Psychopathy and Normal Personality. In: Cooke, D.J., Forth, A.E., Hare, R.D. (eds) Psychopathy: Theory, Research and Implications for Society. NATO ASI Series, vol 88. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3965-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3965-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-4920-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-3965-6

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