According to popular culture, psychopaths are dangerous, sometimes brilliant, but callous, incapable of empathy, and prone to antisocial behaviour and violent crimes. In the law, assessments of psychopathy are used to justify crucial judicial decisions. Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen, Associate Professor of Forensic Epistemology and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto Mississauga, argues that this picture is scientifically unfounded.
Larsen recently appeared on CBC’s Ideas with Nahlah Ayed to discuss his new book, Psychopathy Unmasked: The Rise and Fall of a Dangerous Diagnosis. Larsen explains, how research on psychopathy consistently fails to support the way it is commonly conceived. According to Larsen, the idea that those diagnosed with psychopathy pose a special danger, beyond that of other criminals, due to their extraordinary psychological traits is a stubborn myth which is at odds with a systematic review of the scientific evidence. Larsen argues that the diagnosis of psychopathy should no longer be used in the criminal justice system.
Listen to Larsen’s interview on Ideas that aired on August 3, 2026.