This is a past event
Speaker: Dr Elizabeth Shaw
Abstract:
Currently, in Scotland, psychopathic personality disorder is explicitly excluded from the mental disorder defence. This defence relieves individuals from criminal responsibility, if, as a result of mental disorder, they lack certain psychological capacities. The psychopathy exclusion is problematic, because individuals with severe psychopathy appear to lack one of the relevant capacities – the ability to appreciate the wrongfulness of criminal conduct. This presentation will argue that the psychopathy exclusion should be removed.
The current opposition towards including psychopathy within the defence of mental disorder may stem partly from the belief that this condition cannot be treated. It has been claimed that there are conceptual reasons as well as empirical evidence to support this belief. This presentation will challenge these conceptual and empirical claims.
- Hosted by
- School of Law
- Venue
- New King's NK11