Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

Hervey Cleckley (1903-1984) is a key figure in Without Conscience, as his earlier work laid the foundation for much of Hare’s research. Considered a pioneer in the study of psychopathy, Cleckley authored the influential book The Mask of Sanity, first published in 1941. The Mask of Sanity was groundbreaking in providing the first clinical description of psychopathy’s traits. The book presented a checklist of psychopathic traits, describing psychopathy as a syndrome characterized by a lack of genuine emotions, shallow affect, and destructive behavior. As the title suggests, Cleckley also asserted that these traits were concealed by a façade of often charming normality. Cleckley’s profile of the psychopath greatly influenced Hare’s later work, particularly his development of a revised and more comprehensive psychopathy checklist. Like Hare, Cleckley wanted to raise public awareness of the danger psychopaths represented. In Without Conscience, Hare asserts that Cleckley’s prediction of a social crisis caused by psychopathy is becoming a reality.

Ted Bundy (1946-1989) is one of the most notorious American serial killers. During the 1970s, he kidnapped, raped, and murdered a series of young women. Before his execution, he confessed to 30 murders, but the true total is thought to be over 100.

In Without Conscience, Hare frequently references Bundy as an individual who both does and does not typify the traits of a psychopath. The author emphasizes that while Bundy embodies psychopathy for most people, it is vital to remember that he is one of only a small percentage of psychopaths who are serial killers. Hare suggests that public focus on killers like Bundy distracts from the danger “everyday” psychopaths pose to society. Nevertheless, Hare uses Bundy to illustrate many typical psychopathic traits. Bundy’s crimes were meticulously planned, and he was judged to be legally “sane,” corroborating Hare’s assertion that psychopathic violence is calculated and cold-blooded. Furthermore, he expressed no remorse or regard for society’s rules, believing that guilt was a uselessly restrictive societal construct. Bundy also exemplified the superficial charm and plausibility of the psychopath. Those who encountered him, such as the author Anne Rule, described him as good-looking and pleasant and initially found it difficult to believe he was capable of such crimes. Bundy’s modus operandi also supports Hare’s claim that psychopaths exploit psychological insight into others for manipulative purposes. A psychology major, Bundy used props such as crutches or an arm sling to present himself as temporarily disabled. Lulled into believing he posed no physical threat, victims were often kidnapped when trying to assist him.

Psychopathic American serial killer John Wayne Gacy (1942-1994) is frequently referenced in Without Conscience. During the 1970s, Gacy raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men, burying their bodies under and around his property.

Hare largely uses Gacy’s case to illustrate how psychopaths often cultivate a veneer of respectability and seek powerful positions to detract from their true traits and behaviors. The author cites how Gacy was vice-president of the Waterloo Jaycees, became involved in Democratic Party politics, and performed at fundraising events as the children’s entertainer, “Pogo the Clown.” Gacy often used manipulation and deceit to lure his victims into vulnerable situations. He convinced some that he was a police officer, while he persuaded others to wear handcuffs, claiming he was going to perform a magic trick. Hare’s account of Gacy’s rambling and often contradictory testimonies during his trial also illustrates the linguistic peculiarities and inconsistencies often evident in psychopaths’ speech. Gacy’s plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was rejected, as he was judged to be psychopathic rather than psychotic. From his original arrest to his execution, he expressed no remorse for the suffering he inflicted on his victims.

In 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children in an attempt to kill them. Consequently, her seven-year-old daughter died, her three-year-old son was left paralyzed, and her eight-year-old daughter suffered a stroke. Downs attempted to conceal her actions, claiming that a stranger had shot her children during a carjacking. During her trial, the prosecution argued that Downs tried to murder her children, as her lover did not want to be a father. She was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Downs’s story is referenced in Without Conscience as an illustration of female psychopathy. While most high-profile psychopathic killers are men, Hare emphasizes that psychopathy is not a masculine preserve. The author presents Downs as an extreme example of the psychopath’s irresponsible attitude toward parenthood. She demonstrates how female psychopaths often fail to meet the needs of their children, abandon them, or view them as disposable items of property. Furthermore, her false claim that she was carjacked and traumatized by the event highlights the psychopath’s tendency to present themself as a victim rather than a perpetrator. Downs’s case also underlines the shallow affect of psychopaths, as her calm manner after the shootings starkly contrasted with the horror of the events she described, raising the suspicions of the police. Like Bundy and Gacy, Down expressed no sense of guilt for her crimes, maintaining the stance that she was a victim.