Dimensions of juvenile psychopathy distinguish “bullies,” “bully-victims,” and “victims”.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Psychopathy is a multidimensional construct comprising traits of narcissism, impulsivity, and callous-unemotionality (CU). Prior cross-sectional research supports an association between the CU dimension of juvenile psychopathy and peer bullying, but not victimization; however the relationship between the other psychopathy dimensions and bully, victim, and classifications has been largely neglected in research despite compelling empirical and theoretical support. METHOD: The current study addresses this critical gap in the literature using a longitudinal study design. The sample comprised 1416 (50.1% girls) Greek Cypriot adolescents (M age = 12.89) who completed a battery of self-report measures. RESULTS: CU traits, narcissism, and impulsivity each added incremental variance beyond conduct problems (CP) to predicting bullying, whereas only impulsivity predicted victimization, one year later. Person-centered analyses clarified that CP and all psychopathy dimensions predicted membership into bully and victim groups, although the highest narcissism scores distinguished bullies. Impulsivity predicted membership into and victim groups, with the latter group scoring significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: Notwithstanding other important unexamined factors known to contribute to bullying and victimization, our findings suggest that among psychopathy dimensions, narcissism best predicted which youth bullied, whereas impulsivity best distinguished youth susceptible to peer victimization.