I can say that the PCL-R is a long established and well respected tool designed to be used by knowledgeable clinicians in clinical settings. Because psychopaths are charming and manipulative, it relies only in small part on an in person interview. Interviews with people around the subject and in a position to observe them over time are heavily factored, as are thorough reviews of available records - medical, institutional, educational etc. etc. Because of the nature of the disorder it needs to be pretty tough to fool a well administered PCL-R, and I think it probably is.
I know the Bernardo/Homolka case inside out and backwards, six ways to Sunday. I took a really, really deep dive on that case, and for years. I remember that video as well, and her behaviour was very offputting, I agree. I think it took her a very long time to understand and accept her own responsibility. For many years she felt and said that Paul did it, Paul made her, Paul, Paul, Paul. And to some extent that was true, but she needed to understand and accept her own responsibility and the parts of her own character that made her vulnerable to making the choices she did. That eventually happened, and I'd bet my life savings on the fact that no, she is not and never was a psychopath, or a sociopath. She had a moderately elevated score on narcissism, and I think that probably describes things fairly accurately. I never for one second thought she would reoffend, because the very unique situation that had created her criminal behaviour was completely dissolved. There was disagreement in the psychiatric community about her - both in court and in talking head land - I remember those talking heads on TV swearing she was a monster and it was inevitable that she would reoffend. It's 12 years later now and so far the evidence would suggest they were wrong.
