All Walks of Life: Editorial for the Special Issue on “The Impact of Psychopathy: Multidisciplinary and Applied Perspectives”

• Author: Carlo Garofalo,Hedwig Eisenbarth,Matthew Shane
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X221102811
• Published date: 01 November 2022
• Date: 01 November 2022
• Subject Matter: Introduction

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X221102811

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2022, Vol. 66(15) 1491 –1497

© The Author(s) 2022

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X221102811

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Introduction

All Walks of Life: Editorial

for the Special Issue on “The

Impact of Psychopathy:

Multidisciplinary and Applied

Perspectives”

Carlo Garofalo1, Hedwig Eisenbarth2,

and Matthew Shane3

Abstract

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve as Guest Editors of this Special Issue on

“The impact of psychopathy: Multidisciplinary and applied perspectives.” Psychopathy

is a serious public health concern that has long attracted scholarly and clinical interest

in both mental health and criminal justice fields. However, given its robust link with

criminal behavior, research on psychopathy has largely developed with a primary

emphasis on (male) adults within correctional settings. While the preponderance

of work remains focused on these adult offenders, research on psychopathy has

expanded in recent decades to include studies within a variety of more diverse

populations and contexts. The goal of this Special Issue has been to highlight some

of the most recent research in these areas, toward a more deliberate emphasis on

the broad impacts that psychopathy can impart across all walks of life. To this end,

while only two of the papers included in the Special Issue focused on forensic samples

(and more specifically on treatment and recidivism), all 10 papers have nonetheless

offered a clear focus on the detrimental impacts that individuals with psychopathic

traits can impart within society. Indeed, included manuscripts focused on the impact

of psychopathy within romantic relationships (in both middle and older adulthood),

within parent-child dyads, within the workplace, and within society at large. Across

these studies, the significant, detrimental impact that individuals with heightened

psychopathic traits impart is highlighted, not only for their victims, but also for their

1Tilburg University, The Netherlands

2Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

3Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Canada

Corresponding Author:

Carlo Garofalo, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Email: c.garofalo@tilburguniversity.edu

1102811IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X221102811International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyGarofalo et al.

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