Psychopathic offenders – or "psychopaths" – are believed to be dangerous social predators, utterly incapable of pro-social behaviour. Once diagnosed as a psychopath, a person is likely to be managed differently in the criminal justice system, such as being placed in high-risk institutions, denied parole, and given non-lenient sentences. But are psychopaths really such dangerous social predators in need of extra-diligent control? In this talk, Dr. Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen presents recent research, which he believes should prompt use to rethink the use of psychopathy assessments in the criminal justice system.

Dr. Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen is an Assistant Professor in the Forensic Science Program at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Dr. Larsen’s area of specialization is in Forensic Epistemology, researching various issues in forensic practices intersecting with ethical guidelines, theory validation, and critical thinking. Visit www.tedxuoft.com to learn more. Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen has been with the University of Toronto Mississauga since July 2017, where he lectures in the Forensic Science Program. His main research interests are in forensic practices and the mental health sciences, exploring various issues pertaining to ethical guidelines, theoretical validation, and data annotation methods. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx