The terms “psychopath” and “anti-social personality disorder have famously evoked in us images of blood-soaked serial killers and horrifying crimes which continue to keep us vigilant against the advances of the metaphorical ‘boogie man’. However, it is precisely the spine-chilling connotations of this diagnosis that may lead us to overlook the subtle intricacies and traumatic origins of the psychopathic personality structure as it is expressed in everyday life. From the sexual predators who help us with our groceries to the ‘snakes in suits’ who ruthlessly plough their way through others in their climb to the top of the corporate ladder, psychopathy may manifest in disguised yet damaging ways beyond criminal behaviour and be motivated by deep pain rather than power. In an intriguing presentation, Anthony Townsend attempts to deconstruct the psychopathic personality spectrum ranging from sadistic serial killers to sub-clinical psychopaths in the hope of discovering the ‘devil in the details’. Drawing upon in-depth case histories and clinical material, the process of diagnosing psychopathy as it manifests in the therapeutic setting will be discussed with particular attention being focussed on possible psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioural treatment methods beyond prison-based rehabilitation, in order to determine whether hope exists for this clinical population who are arguably classified as ‘untreatable’. With special attention to diagnostic and psychometric tools typically used to assist in identifying this population, an important differential diagnosis to separate antisocial personality disorder from sociopathy and psychopathy is provided.  By examining the strengths and limitations of the DSM-5’s approach to the diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder, the value of integrating psychoanalytic concepts of attachment and intra-psychic drives with neuroscientific findings on mirror neurons and broader brain development, an attempt is made to dissect the psychopathic brain and mind with a view to better understanding the often misunderstood internal world of those labelled antisocial. Combing through seminal works and cutting-edge research on various aetiological pathways of psychopathy including complex childhood trauma, military training and traumatic brain injuries amongst others, an integrated model of psychopathy will be developed in order to gain insights into the process of ‘making a monster’. Finally, a rare glimpse into the unique role of an investigating forensic psychologist will be offered as the process of constructing a criminal profile of psychopathic serial killers and criminal offenders is explained from the crime scene to recommendations on sentencing in order to reveal how empathy can overcome ‘evil’.