Assessing potential overlap between self-control and psychopathy: A consideration of the Grasmick self-control scale and the Levenson self-report psychopathy scale

Abstract

The current work assesses overlap between self-control and psychopathy with a focus on the Grasmick et al. (1993) self-control scale (gscs) and the levenson et al. (1995) self-report psychopathy scale (lsrps). using a sample of undergraduates analyses found the association between the elements of self-control and psychopathy factors was stronger than the association among the elements self-control themselves. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses found that factors emerging from the pooled set of gscs and lsrps items typically included items from both the gscs and the lsrps. Factors with items from both scales were identified as angry hostility, simple tasks, callousness, impulsivity, and narcissism. in contrast, empathy and egocentricity were unique to the lsrps, and physical activity was unique to the gscs. Results indicate that efforts to specify the relative contribution of self-control and psychopathy to criminal propensity should be careful to establish the independence of measures of the respective constructs.