Comment: Holding psychopaths morally and criminally culpable

Michael J. Vitacco, Steven K. Erickson, David A. Lishner

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Theoretical arguments that psychopathy eliminates individual responsibility for illegal behavior and can therefore serve as a basis for an insanity defense are largely premised on emotional characteristics of psychopathy that impede the individual's capacity to appreciate right from wrong. We offer arguments and countervailing evidence indicating psychopaths do have the capacity to appreciate right from wrong and therefore should not be absolved of criminal responsibility.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)423-425
Number of pages3
JournalEmotion Review
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • culpability
  • insanity defense
  • psychopathy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comment: Holding psychopaths morally and criminally culpable'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this