Psychopathic propensities contribute to social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism in predicting prejudicial attitudes in a large European sample

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Investigators have proposed a Dual Process Model (DPM) that involves two social-attitudinal variables, social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), which account for prejudicial attitudes. Both RWA and SDO are theoretically and empirically linked to lower empathy and agreeableness (i.e., antagonism). Moreover, psychopathic traits are robustly linked with decreased empathy and elevated antagonism, and thus have at least an indirect theoretical link with prejudice through SDO and RWA. In the current study, two independent samples of Croatian (N = 386) and Greek (N = 378) undergraduates completed SDO, RWA, psychopathy and prejudice assessments. Evidence of strong measurement invariance was found and thus the samples were combined to form a broad European sample. A structural equation model was specified to test whether psychopathic traits (Interpersonal, Affective, Lifestyle, Antisocial) evidenced direct effects on SDO, RWA, and indirect effects through these constructs on prejudicial attitudes towards minorities and Middle Eastern refugees. As predicted, interpersonal and affective traits evidenced positive direct and indirect effects, respectively, on RWA, SDO and prejudicial attitudes, while impulsive lifestyle traits had negative direct and indirect effects on these constructs. The findings suggest a shared nomological network with respect to psychopathic propensities, SDO, RWA, and prejudicial attitudes.