People with psychopathy are more likely to commit crimes.

Is it true that people with psychopathy are more likely to commit crimes?

Unclear. The retrieved items only partially support the claim: one encyclopedia entry notes psychopathy is often associated with repeated crime and violence, and a survey of forensic professionals reports they view psychopaths as more likely to commit crimes. A small study of substance abusers found more psychopathy traits among those with criminal records, but no item directly establishes a general elevated likelihood of crime.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 5 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 18 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Psychopathy. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy

Psychopathy Checklist. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy_Checklist

Are psychopaths more intelligent than people in general?. (n.d.). skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/8435

Psychopathological features in a sample of substance‐abusing individuals with criminal history: Towards a definition of a personality prototype of an ‘Addict with Criminal Conduct’. (2016). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.1999

Forensic mental health professionals’ perceptions of psychopathy: A prototypicality analysis of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality in Sweden.. (2014). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000072