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81 FBI L. Enforcement Bull. 28 (2012)
The Language of Psychopaths: New Findings and Implications for Law Enforcement

handle is hein.journals/fbileb81 and id is 246 raw text is: or psychopaths, not only a lack of affect but also inappropriate emotion may reveal the extent of their callousness. Recent research suggested that much can be learned about these individuals by close examination of their language. Their highly per- suasive nonverbal behavior often distracts the listener from identifying their psycho- pathic nature. For example, on a publically available police interview with murderer and rapist Paul Bernardo, his powerful use of communica- tion via his hand gesturing is easily observable and often distracts from his spoken lies.2 The authors offer their insights into the unique considerations pertaining to psychopaths' communication. Psychopathy Robert Pickton, convicted of the second-degree murder of six women in December 2007, initially was on trial for 26 counts of first-degree murder. He once bragged to a cellmate that he intended to kill 50 wom- en. Details provided in court re- vealed brutal and heinous mur- ders that often included torture, degradation, and dismember- ment of the victims. The authors opine that Mr. Pickton proba- bly would meet the criteria for psychopathy, a destructive per- sonality disorder that combines 28 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin