Hervey M. Cleckley

Hervey Milton Cleckley
Born(1903-09-07)September 7, 1903
Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 1984(1984-01-28) (aged 80)
EducationUniversity of Georgia (BS, MD)
University of Oxford (BA)
OccupationPsychiatrist
Known forPioneer in the field of psychopathy
Notable workThe Mask of Sanity

Hervey Milton Cleckley (September 7, 1903 – January 28, 1984) was an American psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of psychopathy. His book, The Mask of Sanity, originally published in 1941 and revised in new editions until the 1980s, provided the first clinical description of psychopathy. He defined the term somewhat more broadly than it is understood today, as referring to somebody who behaves in a destructive manner despite lacking overt signs of psychosis or neurosis; this is reflected in the term "mask of sanity", derived from Cleckley's belief that a psychopath can appear normal and even engaging, but that the "mask" conceals a mental disorder.[1] By the time of his death, Cleckley was better remembered for a vivid case study of a female patient, published as a book in 1956 and turned into a movie, The Three Faces of Eve, in 1957. His report of the case (re)popularized the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder in America.[2] The concept of psychopathy continues to be influential through forming parts of the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, the Psychopathy Checklist, and public perception.

Filmmaker Errol Morris, who tried unsuccessfully to interview Cleckley, said in 2012/13: "He's one of the unsung 20th-century figures. He created two of the enduring myths – I would call them – of the 20th century ...These ideas don't originate with Cleckley, but Cleckley popularized them, he built them up, he sold them – almost as a brand."[3][4]

  1. ^ Meloy, J. Read (1988). The Psychopathic Mind: Origins, Dynamics, and Treatment. Northvale, New Jersey: Jason Aronson Inc. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-87668-311-8.
  2. ^ Seabrook, John (November 10, 2008). "Suffering Souls: The search for the roots of psychopathy". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  3. ^ Errol Morris and The Mask of Fatality: An Interview by Julie Cline February 17, 2013. Los Angeles Review of Books.
  4. ^ Errol Morris v. Janet Malcolm. The documentary filmmaker takes on the Jeffrey MacDonald murder case. By Emily Bazelon. Slate. September 13, 2012.