Article
Empathy for Psychopaths: Using fMRI Brain Scans to Plea for Leniency in Death Penalty Cases
Law and Psychology Review
(2013)
Abstract
Most of the public agrees that society is safer without psychopaths.
However, a new sentencing strategy for psychopaths facing the death
penalty has erupted from both mental health researchers and defense
lawyers-imploring juries to view a defendant's psychopathy as a
consideration of sentencing mitigation, and, consequently, urging juries to
impose life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
This article explains the frightening nature of psychopaths, how
neuroscience and neuroimaging intersects with the study of psychopathy,
and, specifically, whether an fiMRI brain scan is appropriate mitigating
evidence in death penalty sentencing hearings when the convicted
defendant is a diagnosed psychopath.
Keywords
- psychopath,
- fMRI,
- death penalty,
- neuroscience,
- mental health,
- psychology
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
Citation Information
Kimberly D Phillips. "Empathy for Psychopaths: Using fMRI Brain Scans to Plea for Leniency in Death Penalty Cases" Law and Psychology Review Vol. 37 (2013) p. 1 - 47 ISSN: 0098-5961 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kimberly_phillips/5/