Psychopathy Unmasked
Book • 2025
Rasmus Rosenberg-Larsen traces the development of the psychopathy diagnosis and examines how it became entrenched in science, law, and popular culture.
He argues that many core claims about psychopathy—such as a distinct lack of empathy, clear genetic markers, or consistent brain abnormalities—do not hold up to empirical scrutiny.
The book explores how diagnostic tools and cultural narratives helped institutionalize the idea despite weak evidence.
Rosenberg-Larsen highlights the practical harms of the diagnosis, especially in forensic and legal contexts where it influences sentencing and management.
He calls for rethinking and potentially abandoning the diagnosis given its dubious scientific basis and real-world consequences.
He argues that many core claims about psychopathy—such as a distinct lack of empathy, clear genetic markers, or consistent brain abnormalities—do not hold up to empirical scrutiny.
The book explores how diagnostic tools and cultural narratives helped institutionalize the idea despite weak evidence.
Rosenberg-Larsen highlights the practical harms of the diagnosis, especially in forensic and legal contexts where it influences sentencing and management.
He calls for rethinking and potentially abandoning the diagnosis given its dubious scientific basis and real-world consequences.
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Krys Boyd
What if psychopaths aren’t real?
