The psychology departments of Eastern Washington University and Bellevue College will jointly present a free, public lecture on the topic, “Psychopaths: Are They Mad or Bad?” on May 27.

Featuring Eastern Washington University assistant psychology professor Dr. Kurt Stellwagen, the event begins at 10:30 am in Bellevue College’s Carlson Theatre (located in the E Building on the south courtyard of the college’s main campus).

A Ph.D. graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stellwagen’s research focuses on the role psychopathic and narcissistic traits play in long-term antisocial behavior.

In his presentation, Stellwagen will review the changing views that society and academia have held of psychopathy over the years, then use the accumulated body of research to suggest whether psychopaths should be judged as being “mad” (i.e., mentally ill), “bad” (i.e., morally deficient), or both.

The author of numerous articles on psychopathology in scholarly journals, Stellwagen recently co-edited and co-authored a book entitled, The Emergence of “Dark” Personalities: The Early Emergence of Narcissism and Machiavellianism in Antisocial Behavior, soon to be published by the American Psychological Association Press.

Eastern Washington University and Bellevue College have collaborated since 2003 to provide BC students and area residents with career advancement opportunities through baccalaureate degree completion programs.

For the past four years, the two institutions have presented annual public lectures on controversial and timely topics in psychology.

The Eastern @ Bellevue College university center on BC’s campus offers upper division courses leading to five EWU bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Management major), Bachelor of Arts in Children’s Studies (Early Childhood Education option), Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies – Social and Behavioral Science, and Bachelor of Science in Applied Technology.

Bellevue College’s main campus is located at 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, at the intersection of S.E. 28th St. and 148th Ave. S.E.