Robert D. Hare

Robert D. Hare – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Robert D. Hare — the Canadian psychologist behind the Psychopathy Checklist, his life, research on psychopathology, influential publications, and key insights (with famous quotes).

Introduction

Robert D. Hare (born January 1, 1934) is a Canadian forensic psychologist whose pioneering work has profoundly shaped how we understand psychopathy, its assessment, and its implications in criminal justice and beyond. He is best known for developing the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), which remains one of the most widely used tools for evaluating psychopathic traits in individuals.

Hare’s work bridges rigorous science and real-world application: his research, consulting, writings, and public communication have made psychopathy a more accessible concept to professionals and lay audiences alike. In this article, we explore his life, career, key contributions, personality and motivations, his most iconic quotes, and lessons we can draw from his legacy.

Early Life and Family

Robert D. Hare was born on January 1, 1934, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

In his youth, Hare described his academic experience as somewhat uncommitted: he “coasted” through high school, doing well enough but without strong direction. He also participated in sports and had varied interests, but did not at first identify strongly with a career path.

In 1959, he married Averil Hare, whom he had met during a psychology/abnormal psychology class. Cheryl, born around 1960.

Education and Early Career

Hare began formal studies in psychology at the University of Alberta, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (with a focus on psychology) followed by a Master of Arts in psychology.

He initially enrolled in a PhD program in psychophysiology at the University of Oregon (USA), but family circumstances (notably health issues with his daughter) led him to return to Canada. PhD in 1963 at University of Western Ontario, with a dissertation on behavioral effects of punishment—a topic that intersected with his later interest in antisocial and deviant behavior.

After completing his doctorate, Hare took on work in the British Columbia prison system. Although he had little formal training specifically in corrections, he spent about eight months as a prison psychologist in British Columbia Penitentiary, which exposed him to firsthand experiences of criminal behavior and institutional dynamics.

He then joined the University of British Columbia (UBC) as a researcher and faculty in psychology. Over the ensuing decades, he conducted wide-ranging empirical work, supervised students, consulted with legal and prison authorities, and built his reputation.

Hare remained at UBC for many years, eventually becoming Professor Emeritus.

Research & Achievements

Foundation: Psychopathy, Theory & Assessment

One of the major challenges in the mid-20th century was conceptualizing and measuring psychopathy in a way that bridged clinical, research, and legal contexts. Building on earlier theorists (notably Hervey Cleckley), Hare sought to refine the concept into operationally useful form.

In 1980, he first circulated a Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) — a semi-structured tool for assessing psychopathic traits in forensic populations. Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), which became his signature and most influential instrument.

The PCL-R scores individuals on multiple components (e.g. interpersonal charm, lack of empathy, impulsivity, antisocial behaviors), and has been used in forensic assessment, research, risk assessment, and even criminal sentencing in many jurisdictions.

Hare also co-developed derivative tools:

• PCL: Screening Version (PCL:SV)

• Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV)

• Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD)

• P-Scan (a screening form for non-clinicians)

• B-Scan questionnaires (peer/observer rating forms for workplace contexts)

• Treatment guidelines for psychopathy

His lab and empirical work have addressed the neurobiological, developmental, emotional, and behavioral underpinnings of psychopathy. He has conducted hundreds of published studies (100+ scientific articles) and chapters, influencing the academic field of criminology, forensic psychology, and beyond.

Popular Books & Public Impact

Hare has also bridged academic and public audiences through influential books:

• Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us — perhaps his best-known work, targeting educated general readers and exploring the real-world impact of psychopathic individuals.

• Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work (co-authored with Paul Babiak) — explores the phenomenon of “successful psychopaths” in corporate, organizational, and workplace settings.

• Various edited volumes and handbooks (e.g. Psychopathy: Theory and Research, International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law)

Hare’s public communication, consulting, and media presence have helped bring psychopathy into broader social discourse — including debates about mental health, criminal justice, corporate governance, and risk management.

Honors, Awards & Service

Throughout his career, Hare has been recognized with numerous honors:

• In 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.

• He has received the Donald O. Hebb Award (Canadian Psychological Association) for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science.

• He was also awarded the Bruno Klopfer Award (for contributions to personality assessment).

• He’s received lifetime achievement awards in the field of psychopathy and forensic psychology.

Hare has consulted with national and international agencies, including FBI’s Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resource Center (CASMIRC), prison systems, and legal bodies.

He also led and directed his own Darkstone Research Group Ltd., a forensic research and consulting firm.

Historical & Intellectual Context

Hare’s work can be seen as revitalizing the scientific study of psychopathy in the late 20th century, bridging the earlier era of clinical/psychiatric descriptions (such as those by Cleckley) with more rigorous, >

His contributions arrived at a moment when psychology, neuroscience, and criminology increasingly prioritized measurable constructs, brain research, and risk assessment. The PCL-R, in particular, allowed psychopathy to move from a vague clinical label toward a quantitative tool used in research, corrections, and courtroom settings.

As the legal and forensic worlds demanded more precision in predicting recidivism, dangerousness, and treatment feasibility, Hare’s instruments and theory found practical uptake — but also scrutiny and debate. His willingness to engage in both academic rigor and real-world application gave his work broad reach.

He also contributed to the changing perception that psychopathy is not just a rare phenomenon confined to violent criminals — but exists in varying degrees across populations (including in corporate, political, or institutional settings). This notion challenged stereotypes and popular misconceptions.

Personality, Motivations, and Approach

While much of Hare’s public profile is through his work and writing, several traits and philosophies stand out:

• Empirical rigor & measurement focus. He repeatedly emphasized that science requires reliable measurement; his work often insists on quantification, validation, inter-rater reliability, and empirical foundations.

• Pragmatism. He has often focused on “what works” in assessing risk, diagnosing, and consulting – not just theoretical speculation.

• Bridging research and application. Hare was committed not only to theory but to use: collaborating with prisons, legal systems, agencies, and policy makers.

• Candid about limitations. He has acknowledged that the concept of psychopathy, while useful, is not without controversy and that assessment tools must be used carefully.

• Resilience & reflection. The personal tragedies in his life, such as the loss of his daughter, reportedly deepened his reflections on human emotion, suffering, and the moral dimensions of behavior.

Famous Quotes of Robert D. Hare

Here are a number of well-known, thought-provoking quotes from Robert D. Hare:
(These quotes are drawn from various sources of his published popular and academic works.)

“Psychopaths view any social exchange as a ‘feeding opportunity,’ a contest or a test of wills in which there can be only one winner. Their motives are to manipulate and take, ruthlessly and without remorse.”

“Psychopaths are social predators, and like all predators, they are looking for feeding grounds. Wherever you get power, prestige and money, you will find them.”

“Language and words for psychopaths are only word deep; there is no emotional colouring behind it. A psychopath can use a word like, ‘I love you’ but it means nothing more to him than if he said, ‘I’ll have a cup of coffee.’”

“Not all psychopaths are in prison — some are in the boardroom.”

“Many psychopaths describe the traditional treatment programmes as finishing schools where they hone their skills. Where they find out that there are lots of techniques they had not thought about before.”

“People tend to think of psychopaths as criminals. In fact, the majority of psychopaths aren’t criminal.”

“Science cannot progress without reliable and accurate measurement of what it is you are trying to study. The key is measurement, simple as that.”

“All the reading in the world cannot immunize you from the devastating effects of psychopaths. Everyone, including the experts, can be taken in, conned, and left bewildered by them.”

These quotes reflect recurring themes in Hare’s thinking: the manipulative and strategic nature of psychopathy, the challenge of emotional depth, the limitations of treatment, and the importance of measurement and scrutiny.

Lessons and Takeaways from Hare’s Work

The life and contributions of Robert D. Hare offer several lessons — both for professionals in psychology, criminology, forensic science — and for a broader audience:

1. Conceptual clarity matters.
   A major challenge in studying complex human phenomena is ambiguity. Hare’s work underscores the importance of operational definitions, measurement, and empirical validation.

2. Bridging theory and practice is vital.
   His engagement with legal systems, corrections institutions, and consulting shows how research should inform real-world decisions, and also how practice challenges theory.

3. Beware of overconfidence.
   Even the best tools have limits. Hare’s caution about misuse or overinterpretation warns against turning quantitative scores into absolute judgments.

4. Complexity across populations.
   Psychopathy is not confined to prisons. It can lie in business, politics, and institutions. Vigilance is needed in multiple domains.

5. Loss and empathy shape perspective.
   Hare’s personal experiences, especially the loss of his daughter, reflect how personal suffering may influence one’s sensitivity to human behavior, morality, and vulnerability.

6. Ongoing debate is healthy.
   Despite widespread adoption, Hare’s work has been debated, critiqued, and refined. This reminds us that scientific inquiry evolves, and foundational tools must be open to challenge.

Conclusion

Robert D. Hare stands as a towering figure in forensic psychology and the study of psychopathy. His rigorous development of the Psychopathy Checklist, his prolific empirical contributions, his bridging of theory and application, and his public engagement have made psychopathy a central topic in both scholarly and policy domains.

Though controversial at times, Hare’s work remains foundational: providing clarity, challenging misconceptions, and demanding careful standards in assessing human conduct. His life story—from Calgary to UBC, from prison wards to global consultancy—illustrates how curiosity, discipline, and empirical rigor can yield transformative impact.