Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses abuse and rape.

Dr. Robert D. Hare is the author of Without Conscience. An eminent Canadian psychologist, he specializes in criminal psychology and psychopathy. He is best known for his development of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), which became a standard tool for diagnosing psychopathy and assessing recidivism risk in prisons and psychiatric facilities. Hare’s creation of the PCL-R was driven by the lack of a consistent and reliable definition of psychopathic traits. Before retiring in 2000, Hare was professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia. As an expert in criminal psychology, he was a consultant for North American and British prison services and an advisor to the FBI’s Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resources Center. In 2010, he was awarded the Canadian Psychological Association’s Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributors to Psychology as a Science.

Hare’s professional expertise provides a detailed, authoritative perspective on the characteristics and behaviors of psychopaths throughout Without Conscience. In addition to recounting his scientific research cases, the author shares his personal experiences with readers. Most notable is his account of meeting “Ray” in his first job as a prison psychologist.