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This brief explores the research on psychopaths in various settings and in everyday life. Psychopaths are often predatory by nature but may appear normal to laypersons. Individuals working in health professions, forensic occupations, education and corporate environments are likely to encounter a person with psychopathic traits at some point in their respective careers; this brief highlights the value of being able to identify a person with psychopathic traits, to understand the implications, and to navigate any interactions.
With recommendations for assessment and for guiding future interactions, this brief will be beneficial to mental health professionals, practitioners and researchers in psychology, forensic occupations, corrections, education, healthcare, and professionals in corporate environments.
List of contents
1. Introduction to psychopathy.- 2. Recognizing a psychopath.- 3. Health professions.- 4. Forensic and first responders.- 5. Education.- 6. Corporate.- 7. Summary.
About the author
Jennifer Davidtz is an Associate Professor in the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University, where she is also the Director of Internship Training for the Psychology Services Center, and Director of Psychological Services for the Emotionally Distressed, a specialty program within the PSC that serves people with serious mental illness and personality disorders. She completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by a doctoral internship at The Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Hospital and post-doctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Davidtz's clinical and scholarly interests include community psychology, social justice, and the person in context; the treatment of serious mental illness, personality disorders, and complex posttraumatic and dissociative conditions; clinical psychology training and therapist development; contemporary relational psychodynamic approaches to psychotherapy; countertransference and other intersubjective psychotherapy process phenomena; and psychotherapy integration. She also maintains a part-time private practice specializing in the treatment of borderline personality disorder, complex PTSD, and dissociative disorders.
Caroline Haskamp is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) with a concentration in forensic psychology. Caroline currently holds a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from NSU. Her primary clinical interests include first responder populations; high-risk and system-involved youth; individuals with serious mental illness including trauma and personality disorders; and forensic populations. Her primary research interests are focused on sex trafficking, first responders, complex trauma, forensic psychological evaluations, and serious mental illness. She has also obtained clinical experience working in inpatient behavioral health, outpatient for youth, families, and individuals with serious mental illness, youth and adult diversionary programs, and correctional settings. In addition, Caroline has served as a trainer for law enforcement officers, crime scene investigators, firefighters, and support staff in Crisis Intervention Training, Peer Support Training, and Behavioral Health Training.
Brittany Plombon is a Forensic Postdoctoral Fellow at the Utah State Hospital and the Utah Department of Human Services. She completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology (Forensic Concentration) at Nova Southeastern University, followed by a doctoral internship within the Forensic Track at the Utah State Hospital. Her primary research and clinical interests are focused on assessments and forensic psychology; individuals with serious mental illness; and first responders. She currently conducts court-ordered forensic evaluations (e.g., competency, violence risk, criminal responsibility, etc.) of inpatient, outpatient, and incarcerated defendants within the Utah criminal justice system. She has served as a presenter and lecturer on Behavioral Health and Peer Support Training for law enforcement professionals and fire rescue personnel. Lastly, she interned with the FBI as a part of their Honor's Internship Program.
Danielle Millen is the Clinical Director of Manhattan CRAN with EAC Network and an Adjunct Professor for the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. She completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University, followed by a doctoral internship within the Forensic Track at NYU-Bellevue. Her primary research and clinical interest are focused on assessments and forensic psychology. She currently conducts comprehensive assessments to address the mental health needs of individuals with severe mental illnesses who are reentering New York City from Rikers Island. She has published book chapters and written articles in th
