The Multifaceted Construct of Psychopathy: Association with APD, Clinical, and Criminal Characteristics among Male and Female Inmates

Abstract

Our study examined the multiple facets of psychopathy and their relationship with personality, mental health and criminal behavior in male and female inmates. At an item level, many Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) symptoms were not significantly associated with the Affective facet of the PCL-R, yet all were significantly associated with the other three facets of psychopathy. At a diagnostic level, the associations between APD and PCL-R facets were consistent and pervasive, but varied in strength by psychopathy facet. Despite a great deal of overlap between psychopathy and APD, we found some differences in the direction and magnitude of association between APD, psychopathy facets, and criminal and clinical characteristics. Notably, among a forensic sample, psychopathy facets conferred additional risk for antisocial behavior, violence, and other forms of personality pathology, even after adjusting for levels of APD. Future directions for psychopathy research are discussed.