In part, I agree with the author's skepticism that psychopathy is purely a mental disorder. I've known people who would easily be classified as psychopaths but

In part, I agree with the author's skepticism that psychopathy is purely a mental disorder. I've known people who would easily be classified as psychopaths but they clearly knew what they were doing was wrong, hurtful, and downright evil (these people oddly happened to be bullies that fixated on me through most of my childhood too). Sometimes people are just evil and trying to sugar coat the notion that someone can be evil doesn't make it easier to cope with it. All it does is delude people into thinking we should have respect or love for someone when they do wrong by us and betray our trust. I think it's better to treat a so-called psychopath as an adult (if they are one) rather than as some broken down piece of machinery. At least then, you won't find yourself with your guard down and your judgement clouded by false sympathies.