Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 1995 - Volume 18, Special Issue 03 (An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary)  

Author's Response

Primary sociopathy (psychopathy) is a type, secondary is not

Linda Mealeya1

a1 Department of Psychology, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN 56374. mealey@csbsu.edu

Abstract

Recent studies lend support to the two-pathway model of the evolution of sociopathy with evidence that: 1) psychopathy (primary sociopathy) is a discrete type and 2) in general, sociopaths have relatively high levels of reproductive success. Hare's Psychopathy Checklist may provide a start for the revision of terminology that will be necessary to distinguish between primary and secondary trajectories.