Psychopathy and perceptions of procedural justice

Abstract

ObjectivesRecognizing that individuals with psychopathic traits are more likely to interact with legal authorities, interact with legal authorities in unique ways, and evaluate these interactions differently from other individuals, we posit that psychopathic personality traits affect the formation of perceptions of procedural justice. MethodsUsing a sample of adolescent offenders, we use multilevel models to investigate how psychopathy and its various dimensions (i.e., callous-unemotional, grandiose-manipulative, and impulsive-irresponsible) identified through the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) are related to changes in perceptions of procedural justice. Then, we use within-level interaction terms to analyze how psychopathy and its dimensions condition the effect of involuntary interactions with police and courts on subsequent perceptions of procedural justice. ResultsResults suggest that psychopathic individuals hold lower perceptions of procedural justice, but they experience greater increases in their perceptions after involuntary contacts with legal authorities. Specifically, individuals who display more psychopathic traits on the impulsive-irresponsible dimension experience a greater increase in perceptions of procedural justice after involuntary encounters with police. ConclusionFuture research should continue to acknowledge the importance of personality in formation of perceptions of procedural justice, and legal authorities should use available instruments to identify psychopathic personality traits to inform citizen-justice agent encounters.