Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

“Psychopaths make up a significant portion of the people the media describe—serial killers, rapists, thieves, swindlers, con men, wife beaters, white-collar criminals, hype-prone stock promoters and ‘boiler-room’ operators, child abusers, gang members, disbarred lawyers, drug barons, professional gamblers, members of organized crime, doctors who’ve lost their licenses, terrorists, cult leaders, mercenaries, and unscrupulous businesspeople.”

Hare asserts that many of the individuals who make headlines for their crimes are psychopaths. By providing a lengthy list of their illegal or unethical activities, from white-collar crime to murder, the author emphasizes the criminal versatility of psychopaths. The quotation underlines The Impact of Psychopaths on Society and Individuals.

“Ray had an incredible ability to con not just me but everybody. He could talk, and like, with a smoothness and a directness that sometimes momentarily disarmed even the most experienced and cynical of the prison staff.”

Here, the author describes Ray, the first psychopath he encountered while working as a prison psychologist. Ray epitomizes the ability of psychopaths to charm, manipulate, and deceive others, as he convinces Hare that a series of unsuitable transfers will benefit his rehabilitation. Ray’s success in exploiting Hare and other more experienced members of the prison’s staff demonstrates the almost preternatural persuasive power of psychopaths.

“For most people, the confusion and uncertainty surrounding this subject begin with the word psychopathy itself. Literally it means mental illness (from psyche, ‘mind’; and pathos, ‘disease’), and this is the meaning of the term still found in some dictionaries. The confusion is also compounded by the media use of the term as the equivalent of ‘insane’ or ‘crazy’: ‘The police say a “psycho” is on the loose,’ or, ‘The guy who killed her must be a “psycho.”’”

Hare explores psychopathy, presenting it as a disorder that is poorly understood. He points out that the Greek origins of the word are misleading as they imply the existence of psychosis—a symptom psychopaths do not experience. Furthermore, in the media, the word “psycho” has become synonymous with mental illness, although psychopaths are considered legally sane. Hare aims to address such misconceptions in his book by providing a clear explanation of the traits of psychopathy.