Psychopathy Checklist
Discover the benefits of implementing a psychopathy checklist template into your psychological practice.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What Is a Psychopathy Checklist Template?
A Psychopathy Checklist is a psychological tool that is commonly used in psychological practice to assess psychopathy. Diagnostic tools such as the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) work to identify psychopathic behaviors and traits to diagnose an individual with psychopathy.
The PCL-R and similar checklists that identify psychopathic tendencies are used only by trained professionals. Specifically, a Psychopathic Checklist Template can help identify specific behaviors and plan for future diagnostic screening for clients.
This Psychopathy Checklist Template can support mental health professionals in identifying the behaviors that align with psychopathy. Mental health professionals will typically sit down with their clients for an appropriate amount of time to work on identifying the subject behaviors or traits. Once the template is completed, the mental health worker will determine whether there needs to be further diagnostic screening for a diagnosis and risk assessment of the individual.
Here are some of the behaviors that are checked on the PCL-R Checklist. Behaviors and traits that are common on a psychopathy checklist include:
- Superficial charm
- Grandiosity
- Pathological lying
- Manipulative
- Lack of remorse
- Lack of empathy
- Parasitic lifestyle
- Poor behavior controls
- Promiscuous sexual behavior
- Early behavioral problems
- Lack of long-term goals
- Impulsivity
- Irresponsibility
- Failure to take accountability
- Many relationships
- Juvenile delinquency
- Criminal versatility
It is important to reiterate that this Psychopathy Checklist Template is NOT a diagnostic screening tool for psychopathy. This means that mental health professionals can not use this to give an individual a legal diagnosis. Instead, this template can support therapists in comprehending challenging behaviors and making future treatment plans.
Printable Psychopathy Checklist PDF here
Monitor symptoms of psychopathy with our Psychopathy Checklist PDF
How Does It Work?
We’ve created an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide to help you understand how to use a Psychopathy Checklist.
Step One: Obtain the Checklist
You can navigate the Carepatron templates section for the Printable Psychopathy Checklist Template. From here, you can download the file onto your computer for online use while in session or print it for a physical copy.
Step Two: Observe Your Client
How you decide to observe certain behavioral tendencies is at your knowledgeable discretion. You may choose to ask your client yes or no questions on what behaviors they think they possess. Or, you may ask questions that display their behavior through their narrative.
Step Three: Complete the Template
You can do this online using our digital version or on a physical copy. Once you have finished, you may determine to do complete psychopathy testing using psychopathy tools that have been created for individuals showing possible behaviors. It is important to remember that this checklist is NOT a diagnosing tool for psychopathy within an individual. This template can help you identify possible behaviors and help with a treatment plan.
Step Four: Consider Further Testing
If you note that there are significant behavioral concerns that align with psychopathy and may not be otherwise explained by something else, you may want to consider further psychological testing to determine if psychopathy is present.
Psychopathy Checklist Example (Sample)
For your convenience, we have completed the Psychopathy Checklist Template PDF so you can reference a completed one. We’re determined to make your life easier when you’re with Carepatron.
Please note that the therapist's observations of them are purely fictional, and individuals who undergo this checklist will be subject to different answers that may not directly align with this completed example.
Download our Psychopathy Checklist Example PDF
When Would You Use This Template?
There are a range of reasons as to why you might need to complete a Psychopathy Checklist. Here are a few:
Risk Assessments
The Psychopathy Checklist is often used to determine the risk of individuals who exert certain behavioral traits. For example, individuals who have been imprisoned may undergo a psychopathy assessment to determine the recidivism rate of that individual. It has been successful in judging the risk of sexual reoffending as well as the recidivism of violent sexual offenders.
Treatment Planning
The Psychopathy Checklist can also be used for treatment planning within a client’s therapy sessions. Some behavioral tendencies do not fit well with certain types of therapies, which need to be addressed if the most effective care is to be achieved. Certain areas of concern can be identified through the Psychopathy Checklist.
For example, it may not be practical to use empathy-based counseling for someone struggling with manipulative behavior or lacking empathy. Judging accordingly and making treatment plans based on all the present factors is essential.
Forensic Settings
Psychopathy Checklists may also be included where a crime has been committed. Specific Psychopathy tools can be performed for legal contexts to support criminal justice professionals in comprehending the individual's potential risk.
What Do The Results Mean?
The results from the Free Psychopathy Checklist differ significantly from a Psychopathy Checklist such as the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). This checklist allows you to determine whether those behaviors may be present. This does require further testing for a diagnosis.
From the Psychopathy Checklist Template that we at Carepatron have created, results may display that some behaviors align with psychopathy, or there might not be. It is up to your discretion to determine whether further psychological testing should occur.
The results from this Psychopathy Checklist should—as with other psychological testing tools - be considered alongside any other important factors within an individual's life. Maybe they are struggling with a lack of empathy because they might have Bipolar Disorder.
It is important to remember that the results of these Psychopathy Checklists will determine plans for the individual. If they display concerning behaviors and traits, it might be determined that they need further diagnostic testing for other severe psychological issues.
Either way, the results from this Psychopathy Checklist are not diagnostic.
Why Use Carepatron as Your Psychopathy Checklist App?
Carepatron is the best place to do all your psychological and mental health work. We know what it takes to give comprehensive and sensitive care to those who need it most. That’s why we house a variety of tools that can help you to provide the best care possible.
As your Psychopathy Checklist Template Software, you can look forward to a seamless work experience for individuals who need your support. By utilizing Carepatron as your therapy practice management software, you can rest well knowing that those pesky administrative tasks are taken care of. Services such as electronic health records, patient appointment reminder software, and medical billing software will be all taken care of, allowing you more time with your clients.
Using Carepatron as your Psychopathy Checklist App also opens up your ability to seek other mental health and psychological resources we have on offer. It doesn’t have to be used for only Psychopathic Checklists. You can look forward to over 1,000 free resources for your everyday use.
Moreover, Careaptron has many other benefits that are ready for your sign-up. We’re here to support you through your challenging workload and make these times more accessible. Sign up today!
References
Hare, R. D., Harpur, T. J., Hakstian, A. R., Forth, A. E., Hart, S. D., & Newman, J. P. (1991). The revised Psychopathy Checklist: Reliability and factor structure. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2(3), 338–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.2.3.338
Kiehl, K. A., & Hoffman, M. B. (2011). THE CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATH: HISTORY, NEUROSCIENCE, TREATMENT, AND ECONOMICS. Jurimetrics, 51, 355–397.
Vitale, J. E., & Newman, J. P. (2006). Using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised With Female Samples: Reliability, Validity, and Implications for Clinical Utility. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 8(1), 117–132. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.8.1.117
Commonly asked questions
Carepatron has created a Free Psychopathy Checklist Template for you as a healthcare practitioner. All you need to do is sign up and download!
Psychopathy checklists can be used in multiple variations, whether you suspect that an individual is showing psychopathic behavior or traits or even if you just want a general understanding of whether those traits are present.
Healthcare professionals will use the Psychopathy Checklist to determine whether the individual displays any signs of psychopathy and make further testing determinations from the checklist results.
