Serial killer – someone who commits a series of murders, often with a period of time between murders and committed upon unknown victims
Severe mental illness – a mental disorder characterized by serious impairment that interferes with multiple life domains; examples may include schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders or severe forms of other mental disorders
Forensic psychology – the intersection between psychology and the law; the practice of applying the science of professional psychology to matters of the legal system
Incompetent to Stand Trial – refers to the state of mind of the defendant during criminal proceedings (not at the time of the crime); when a defendant is unable to understand the charges brought against them or coordinate with their attorney to establish a defense
Insanity – legal finding (not a psychological term or diagnosis)
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity – a legal defense made when a defendant was either unable to understand what they were doing at the time of a crime or unable to differentiate between right and wrong at the time of the crime
Psychopathy – personality traits that are consistent across time and settings characterized by deficits in interpersonal and emotional facets of life and antisocial behavior
Glib – superficially charming
Grandiose sense of self – unrealistic feeling a sense of superiority
“Successful psychopath” – an individual who has psychopathic traits and is able to avoid antisocial or criminal behavior
“Fledgling psychopaths” – a term used to describe a child with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and behavior problems that are hypothesized to predict psychopathic traits
Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) – one of the gold standard measures used to assess psychopathy
Motivational interviewing – a counseling approach centered on eliciting behavior change by addressing ambivalence and insecurity