Investigating the Validity Evidence of the Swedish TriPM in High Security Prisoners Using the PCL-R and NEO-FFI

Jenny Liljeberg,Petter Gustavsson,Katarina Howner,Malin Pauli,Hannibal Ölund Alonso

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.704516

Abstract

The triarchic model of psychopathy was developed to bridge opposing descriptions of psychopathy by separating the core construct in three domains; boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. The Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) operationalizes the model through a 58-item self-report questionnaire. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Swedish translation by investigating intercorrelations and associations to expert-rated psychopathy, general personality and psychopathy-related traits in male high-security prisoners (n = 191). Psychopathy rated with TriPM and the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) demonstrated expected convergence, as did empathy and impulsivity measures. The Disinhibition and Meanness scales were highly correlated, indicating that the scales might not be adequately differentiated. Nevertheless, the divergent association patterns to other important variables, particularly neuroticism and empathy, also points to meaningful differences. However, the lack of association between Disinhibition and Boldness may put into question if these domains are related at all, especially since there was a lack of similarity in the association patterns with other clinical variables. The influence of antisocial behavior in the TriPM operationalization might amplify the similarities of the Meanness and Disinhibition scales, while diluting the associations between Meanness and Boldness. In conclusion, the Swedish TriPM is effective in measuring the domains of triarchic model in forensic settings, even though a revision of the scales might improve the psychometric properties of the instrument.

Highlights

Psychopathy is a pervasive and maladaptive pattern of personality traits, including reduced empathy, callousness, lack of remorse, grandiosity, and interpersonal dominance [1]
The current study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Swedish Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) version by examining the association validity evidence in a Swedish high security prison sample
We modeled the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) total and facet scores using Boldness, Meanness, and Disinhibition as independent variables to account for TriPM domain co-variance, unanimously resulting in significant regression equations (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Psychopathy is a pervasive and maladaptive pattern of personality traits, including reduced empathy, callousness, lack of remorse, grandiosity, and interpersonal dominance [1]. There has been a long, ongoing scientific debate of what the disorder encompasses, with two main questions; the first being if psychopathy is a unitary entity or a combination of interconnected, yet distinguishable traits, and the other if criminality and antisocial behavior should be regarded as a core symptom or a result of the disorder [2] This reflects the heterogeneity of the construct and the difficulties in defining what is the core traits vs the consequences of psychopathy. The triarchic model of psychopathy, introduced by Patrick et al [3], is an integrative model striving to bridge competing current and historical descriptions of psychopathy It is based on three phenotypic constructs or domains; boldness, meanness, and disinhibition, which can be understood and measured separately. Since the triarchic model was presented, literature supporting its conceptual framework and validity is rapidly growing [4]

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