Primary versus secondary psychopathy: Coping styles as a mediator between psychopathy and well-being

Abstract

This study investigated the differences in the levels of adaptiveness of primary and secondary psychopathy in the context of psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction) and the mediating role of three different coping styles (task-focused coping, emotional coping, and avoidance coping) in this relationship. In a non-clinical sample of 297 participants, results indicated that both primary and secondary psychopathy facets were likely to rely on maladaptive coping styles and have poor psychological well-being. Nevertheless, in comparison to secondary psychopathy, primary psychopathy was related to less maladaptive choice of coping styles and to comparatively higher levels of psychological well-being. These findings indicated the need for clinical prevention and intervention programs for teaching sub-clinical psychopaths – particularly people with high levels of secondary psychopathy – effective coping skills and, consequently, ameliorating their psychological well-being and diminishing their negative impact on other people, while taking psychopathy’s multidimensional nature into account.