RMA Blog: What is the Psychopathy Checklist?
We have recently published research on: Psychopathy and the OLR: An analysis of the prevalence of psychopathy in individuals sentenced to an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR). In the report, we often talk about the Psychopathy Checklist – Revised (PCL-R). Here we take a closer look at this assessment tool and why it’s used.
What is psychopathy?
Psychopathy has been described as one of the most important psychological constructs in forensic practice. It’s typically seen as consisting of affective features, such as a lack of empathy or remorse; interpersonal features, such as being deceitful, dominant or superficially charming; and behavioural features like impulsivity, irresponsible behaviour and fearlessness. While not all individuals with psychopathic traits engage in offending behaviour, psychopathy has been linked to individuals offending from an earlier age, committing more crimes, and increased seriousness of crimes.
What is the PCL-R?
Developed by Canadian psychologist Dr. Robert D. Hare, the Psychopathy Checklist – Revised (PCL-R) risk assessment tool is the most widely used approach for assessing psychopathy. It’s used across the world in a range of clinical and forensic settings to identify the nature and extent of psychopathy.
What does it involve?
Designed to assess the presence of traits and behaviours indicative of psychopathy, the PCL-R consists of 20 items. Each item has a 3-point scale ranging across 0 (‘not present’), 1 (‘possibly present’), or 2 (‘definitely present’), with a maximum score of 40. The tool was developed in North America and the manual recommends that a score of 30 or above indicates clinically significant features of psychopathy. There have, however, also been studies looking at different cut-offs in different samples, such as the potential relevance of a score of 25 or above in a UK context.
The tool is used via a semi-structured interview. The interview includes both pre-determined questions and flexible prompts that allow the assessor to explore responses in more depth. Alongside the interview, the assessor will review a range of all available information on the individual. This could include things like social work records, GP and hospital records, education and/or employment record. Learn more about the PCL-R in our Risk Assessment Tools Evaluation Directory (RATED) here.
Why is the PCL-R used in risk assessments?
The PCL-R is considered a valid and reliable tool and is used consistently by RMA Accredited Assessors when conducting Risk Assessment Reports (RAR) for the High Court in relation to an individual being considered for an OLR. It’s important to note that the PCL-R score may be in the RAR but the RAR alone doesn’t determine sentencing and the PCL-R will not be the only assessment method or approach used. As such, the PCL-R score is one component of a broader risk assessment and does not, on its own, determine sentencing outcomes. More on the Risk Assessment Report is available here.
From a risk perspective, the PCL-R score has been shown to have a relationship to future offending, particularly serious offending like violence, as well as various elements of sexual violence such as sexual sadism. However, psychopathy can also be viewed as a set of characteristics about an individual that are likely to impact on their engagement. As such, understanding psychopathy helps to identify more responsive ways of effective working. This means that a PCL-R can help inform treatment and risk management planning. For example, it may help identify key traits an individual possesses that professionals will find helpful to be aware of and to adapt their approach in response to.
Some of the criticisms of the PCL-R have related to its use in legal, particularly civil, settings and the personal implications of labels like ‘psychopathy’, as well as its cross-cultural reliability. There are also wider debates around the construct of psychopathy itself in terms of its definition, value, and relationship to other presentations such as Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
What can we find out from the research?
Understanding psychopathy may help better understand an individual’s offending behaviour and how to work with them more effectively. In our 2022 research, The Offending Behaviour of Those Sentenced to the Order for Lifelong Restriction, we found that 95% of those who have received the OLR sentence have an offending history involving more than one type of offence. We also know that nearly 9 out of 10 individuals in the 2022 study had violent offending within their overall offending history.
Management of individuals subject to an OLR where there are high rates of psychopathy is likely to be a complex process. This new study looks at the need to consider psychopathy in individuals subject to an OLR, so we can better support tailoring of risk management to help make Scotland safer. Detailed commentary is provided on the links between psychopathy and offending, as well as implications for treatment and risk management.