The confusion over psychopathy (I): Historical considerations

This article is the first in a two-part series on psychopathy. Psychopathy is an elusive and perplexing psychological construct. Problems posed by thi s mental disorder are linked to changing historical interpretations impacti ng the current clinical community's general understanding of it especially in relation to Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Accordingly, the res earchers provide a thorough analytical review of the major transitions asso ciated with psychopathy's historical development. This assessment demonstra tes where and how the nomenclature, meaning, degree of social condemnation, and prognosis for this mental disorder have changed Ultimately this articl e clarifies much of the uncertainty surrounding this misunderstood psycholo gical construct.