Both Dolarhyde and Lecter are presented as evil characters by Harris, and as psychopaths. There is no scientific definition of psychopathy. "In general, psychopathy has served as a 'garbage can' diagnosis. Individuals are so labeled as a matter of convenience when they do not readily fit other diagnostic categories" (McCaghy, Captron & Jamieson, 2003, p.39). The term psychopathy was coined in 1896 and "referred to the behavior of a group of individuals who apparently committed crimes upon impulse with no motive except perhaps some satisfaction from the act itself" (McCaghy et al, 2003, p. 38). The APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders contains no definition of the term psychopath, although its entry for antisocial personality comes close. However, many of the traits attributed to the psychopath can be found in Francis Dolarhyde who exhibits many of the psychopathic traits listed by Hervey M. C
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