Social Workers, Too Trusting of Legals?
Helping Social Workers Identify Psychopathic Traits in Legal Professionals In the sensitive world of family law, vulnerable children and women depend on a fair, protective system. Yet sometimes, the very people entrusted with upholding justice — lawyers, guardians, even judges — may exhibit traits that actively harm rather than help. Understanding how psychopathic behaviors can surface among legal professionals is crucial for social workers. Early identification can help protect families from further systemic abuse. Why This Matters Psychopathy is not just about criminal violence. According to expert Dr. Robert Hare (author of Without Conscience, 1999), psychopathy is marked by superficial charm, manipulativeness, lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and a profound absence of guilt or remorse. When these traits appear in legal professionals, it can dangerously skew outcomes: Children's disclosures may be minimized or ignored. Protective parents (often mothers) may be labeled as "...