28 February 2025
Ever met a psychopath? Do you really know what a psychopath is? In this week’s NLJ, Dr Tanya Garrett, clinical and forensic psychologist, sets out how to recognise the personality disorder known as psychopathy and explains why ‘understanding whether someone has psychopathic traits is important for considering parenting capacity, risk and identifying what interventions are needed’.
Garrett writes: ‘Psychologists will often say that you can “feel” when you’re in the room with a psychopath, as there’s a real difference in the quality of their interpersonal style. They come across as self-absorbed, lacking in empathy, and exploitative. Often, but not always, they have quite a list of convictions.’
Garrett shares a recent work experience in a private family law case where she identified the father as having ‘likely psychopathic tendencies’, and how it is often misunderstood. She explains why it is important for lawyers to understand the diagnosis, and what difference it can make, particularly in family and criminal law matters.RELATED ARTICLES
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