Robert Hare Psychopathy Test (PCL – R)

The Robert Hare Psychopathy Test or PCL-R (Psychopathy CheckList- Revised) is an international reference instrument. It is primarily used to evaluate the prison population, but it is also useful in clinical and forensic settings. It is a reliable and valid test, capable of giving us interesting information about emotional and interpersonal aspects, behavioral problems, etc.

When creating this instrument, we attempted to create a resource capable of offering valuable information about people convicted of committing violent acts.

The test soon became a success that was founded on 2 pillars. The first, be very simple to administer. There are 20 items (questions) where the evaluator can compare the person evaluated with the profile of a prototypical psychopath. The second aspect why Robert Hare’s psychopathy test was so accepted is because it could be used beyond the inmate or criminal population.

In this article we will briefly learn who Robert Hare is and delve into the purpose, application and reliability of the PCL-R psychopathy test.

Let’s see more data below.

Who is Robert Hare?

Robert Hare is a Canadian psychologist renowned in the field of criminal psychology. He is considered one of the most prominent experts in the study of psychopathy, due to the large amount of empirical evidence that he has provided through his research.

Hare defines the psychopath using the characteristics described by Hervey Cleckley, which correspond to those of a be talkative, arrogant, insensitive, etc. According to Robert Hare, the social experiences that shape our consciousness have no impact on psychopaths.

Based on the characteristics outlined by Cleckley, Robert designed his well-known assessment instrument for psychopathy, the PCL-R. The concept of psychopathy that appears in this instrument is differentiated from other disorders by a characteristic pattern of symptoms that develop on three main levels: affective, interpersonal and behavioral.

On the emotional level, psychopaths are characterized by their emotional lability, due to their lack of empathy, guilt and remorse. On an interpersonal level, they are arrogant, self-centered, manipulative, dominant and forceful. While, on a behavioral level, they are irresponsible, transgressive, impulsive and sensation-seeking.

Robert Hare Psychopathy Test: Purpose, Application and Reliability

One of the best books on the psychopathic personality is He Disturbing world of psychopaths around us. Written by Robert Hare and published in 2003, it reflects the author’s extensive experience in this field. Thus, the story begins from when He himself, being a simple psychology student, began his internship in various penitentiary centers.

Hare warns in the pages of this book that psychopaths (unlike sociopaths) are not made, they are born. Perhaps, for this reason, he saw it necessary to develop an instrument to evaluate these characteristics that, according to him, are present in approximately 1% of the population. Robert Hare’s psychopathy test, therefore, was a resource developed from his practical experience, abundant studies, interviews and forensic cases.

What does the Robert Hare psychopathy test evaluate?

The Robert Hare test or the PCL-R is used to evaluate the presence or absence of psychopathic traits for clinical, legal or research purposes.. This test was created in the 1990s. However, it was initially effective in evaluating a person’s psychopathic tendencies. However, little by little, Hare and his researchers decided to review it.

The reason for this was due to a recurring fact: Most psychopaths repeat their violent acts.. Therefore, the current PCL-R was created to measure the potential risk of a convicted subject to repeat the crime.

How does it apply?

Robert Hare’s psychopathy test is made up of 20 items on an evaluation scale. It is applied through a semi-structured interview where the professional must value between 0 and 2 points for each question asked. It should be noted that The result of this evaluation does not come only from the interview. The person’s criminal history, expert reports, work and family history, trial records, peer evaluations, etc. are also taken into account.

Let’s see, therefore, what dimensions are assessed in this psychopathy test or Hare’s PCL-R:

Loquaciousness / Superficial charm. Egocentrism / Grandiose sense of self-worth. Need for stimulation / Tendency towards boredom. Pathological lying. Direction / Manipulation. Lack of remorse and guilt. Little depth of affections. Callousness / Lack of empathy. Parasitic lifestyle .Lack of behavioral control.Promiscuous sexual behavior.Early behavioral problems.Lack of realistic long-term goals.Impulsivity.Irresponsibility.Inability to accept responsibility for one’s own actions.Several brief marital relationships.Juvenile delinquency.Revocation of probation .Criminal versatility.

Completing this test lasts an hour and a half. The result we obtain will define the presence or absence of psychopathic tendencies.the significance of them and the possibility of committing violent acts (or committing them again if they have already appeared).

Reliability and validity of the Robert Hare Psychopathy Test

Robert Hare points out that, with this test we can also see what type of psychopath we are dealing with. Let us remember at this point that not all psychopaths kill or commit violent acts. A good part of them are defined only by a manipulative and narcissistic personality, which makes coexistence and identification difficult.

On the other hand, if we now ask ourselves about the reliability of the PCL-R, it should be noted that various analyzes have been carried out. The data always demonstrate high consistency, validity and reliability. We highlight, for example, the study carried out by Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada. In this work carried out by Dr. Kristopher J. Brazil, its usefulness is evident, once again, both in the forensic field and in the clinical or research field.

It is important to conclude with the fact that we are faced with a very interesting instrument to evaluate the psychology not only of people who commit violent crimes, but also of those who are at risk of doing so. Robert Hare, for his part, continues to be (at 88 years old) a reference and one of the great experts on psychopathy and criminal behavior.

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