Sometimes I am amazed by the uncritical interpretation of results. Just two very simple examples when it comes to brain differences and psychopathy: 1) In some widely quoted studies psychopaths were compared with non-offenders. The control group should rather have consisted not only of offenders, but of offenders who had committed the same or similar crimes. 2) Even if there is a statistical difference between psychopaths and non-psychopaths it does not mean that all psychopaths have a brain dysfunction. A naive example: if it is found that 40% of psychopaths have a brain dysfunction versus only 10% of a control group, the results will probably be statistically significant. And it will be reported (especially by the media) that "psychopaths have a brain dysfunction". However, the majority of psychopaths do not fall in this category. What makes it more worrisome is that many lecturers also fall prey to this phenomenon and spread misconceptions and half-truths to their students. Dap Louw University of the Free State South Africa
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