Ten Minute Test Could Spot Killers Before They Kill

from the mind-patrol... dept

Here's one more step towards the thought police. Some researchers have developed a ten minute test that they think can spot psychopaths who have a tendency to become serial killers. The article describes how the test works: by looking at response times to images that may convey conflicting emotions about violence. However, I wonder what happens when someone who has committed no crime takes this test and is determined to be a psychopath. What do you do at that point? Do you lock up someone who has done nothing wrong?
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    DL, 29 May 2003 @ 6:50am

    Sundiver

    Without reading the article, your description sounds remarkably like a device in David Brin's SF novel "Sundiver". People were tested by tracking their eye movement and metabolic responses to various images. Looking for people with violent or criminal tendencies. If flagged by the test, they'd be placed on either "temporary probation" or "permanent probation" and be subject to police monitoring, etc.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Tom Cruise, 29 May 2003 @ 8:10am

      Re: Sundiver

      Also without reading the article it sounds more like Philip K. Dick's novel or the movie "Minority Report," where base on the premonition of Moe, Larry, and Curly individuals are arrested based on crimes they will commit at some future date.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    thecaptain, 29 May 2003 @ 7:21am

    quick fix

    It seems like an attempt at a quick fix...

    If this thing is shown to be even mildly accurate, you just know the mob mentality/lowest common denominator will just love it...forget about committing a crime, this will be used as proof that you will commit one...and will be judged the same thing.

    We'll start having blacklists again...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2003 @ 8:28pm

    No Subject Given

    or say from the movie blade runner?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2003 @ 11:47pm

    Univeral Constant

    I think what you'll find in a society like that is that all the Real Serial Killers(tm) are the ones who are good a taking the test.

    Kinda' reminds me of when I used to work the retail counter at a mall camera shop. I had to take a "screening test" to get the job... only thing was you had to be a total kleptomanic moron to get flagged by the test. Dishonest co-workers who *did* steal from the company were far more intelligent and sneaker than that. Of course those of us who realized that the 50% store authroized discount program for employees was a far easier/less risky way to make money (buy at half price and sell for 75% of retail)... and that's why the employee discount program was there (after all, who can live off of minimum wage plus 10% comission).

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.