No sympathy for the devil: attributing psychopathic traits to capital murderers also predicts support for executing them

• Published in: Personality disorders Vol. 4; no. 2; p. 175
• Main Authors: Edens, John F, Davis, Karen M, Fernandez Smith, Krissie, Guy, Laura S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Antisocial Personality Disorder - psychology; Capital Punishment; Criminals - psychology; Emotions; Female; Homicide; Humans; Male; Public Opinion; Stereotyping; United States; United States

Mental health evidence concerning antisocial and psychopathic traits appears to be introduced frequently in capital murder trials in the United States to argue that defendants are a "continuing threat" to society and thus worthy of execution. Using a simulation design, the present research...