Hancock

• what type of study was it?

  semi structured open ended interview ( form of self report )
• what was the sample?

  • 52 male murders ( 14 psychopathic, 38 non-psychopathic)
  • in canada
  • 8 convictions of first degree murder, 32 convictions second degree murder and 10 manslaughter
• procedure summarised ?

  1. did psychopathy (PCL-R) assessment using psychology checklist
  2. assessment was conducted by extensively trained prison psychologist
  3. from this assessment 14 were classed as psychopaths and 38 non psychopaths
  4. while being recorded they were asked to describe their homicide offences in as much detail as possible
  5. lasted 25 mins
• what are the key findings?

  there was no significant difference in average number of words produced by psychopaths and controls

  
  

  psychopaths used twice as many words related to basic physiological needs

  non psychopaths used words relating to social needs