Facets Of Psychopathy Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Empathy Traits Differences in Males and Females

Researchers agree that one of the most important aspects of psychopathy is lack of empathy. Literature relating to psychopathy and its central components focuses on boys and men, while overlooking girls and women. This issue is partially due to the measurement tools and beliefs about sex-based expression. Previous studies focus primarily on empathy as it relates to antisocial behavior and abuse but is deficient in gender differences and antecedents. This study seeks to fill these voids by examining factors that may distinctly affect male and female empathy levels. The current study used data from the 6th wave of the National Youth Survey to examine empathy levels of 1,452 youths ranging in age from 17 – 24 years. Findings reveal that several variables have a significant impact on empathy levels. Furthermore, analysis shows that the severity of the impact differs depending upon respondent gender. This sheds light on the contrast between male and female empathy levels and invites further investigation into the factors which play a role in the developm

Psychopathic traits, inhibition, and positive and negative emotion: Results from an emotional Go/No-Go task.

Difficulty stopping unwanted or inappropriate actions (i.e., inhibitory control) is implicated in antisocial behaviors, which are common in people high in psychopathic traits. Recent research indicates that, for those with antisocial personality, inhibitory control is impaired under negative emotional contexts; however, it is unclear whether this impairment extends to persons with psychopathic traits and to impairments under positive emotional contexts. Identifying some of these distinctions can point to therapeutics that target negative emotion specifically or emotion dysregulation broadly. We sought to identify unique relationships between distinct facets of psychopathy and inhibitory control in the context of positive, negative, and neutral stimuli. Using a community sample (N=117), event-related potentials were recorded during an emotional-linguistic Go/No-Go task. Results indicated distinct cognition-emotion relationships for each psychopathy facet. Higher interpersonal facet scores related to reciprocal interference between cognition and emotion. Higher callous affect facet scores related to reduced inhibitory and emotional processing, except when stimuli were most engaging (emotional No-Go trials). Higher erratic lifestyle facet scores related to increased effort required to process both emotion and inhibition cues. Finally, higher antisocial facet scores related to poorer behavioral inhibition overall. This research challenges the theoretical accounts of psychopathy focused on specific deficits in negative emotion, such as fearlessness, while offering some support for theories related to attentional dysfunction. Results also highlight the importance of facet-level theorizing, as results varied by facet. This study may inform efforts to reduce disinhibited behaviors, particularly in emotional contexts, among those high in certain psychopathic traits.

Intimate Partner Violence, Psychopathy, and Recidivism: Do Psychopathic Traits Differentiate First-time Offenders from Repeated Offenders?

ABSTRACT The current study analyzes the relation between psychopathic traits and the four facets of psychopathy (i.e., interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial) and general and intimate partner violence (IPV) recidivism. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and the Marital Violence Inventory (IVC) were completed by a sample of 279 male perpetrators of IPV who were retrospectively classified as general repeated offenders versus first-time offenders and IPV repeated-offenders versus IPV first-time offenders. Four separate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted controlling for age and criminal and abuse variables. PCL-R total scores and the antisocial facet were positively correlated with general repeated offenses, despite criminal history showing higher associations with general recidivism. For IPV repeated offenders, PCL-R antisocial facet and criminal history were statistically significant, being the last one the variable that presents higher association with IPV recidivism. These results support the role of criminal history as an important variable for repeated offenses.

Examining the association between childhood cognitive ability and psychopathic traits at age 48.

Despite early theorists suggesting that psychopathic traits are associated with higher intelligence, meta-analytic work has found that global psychopathy scores are actually negatively related to intelligence, albeit weakly. Furthermore, it was reported in the same meta-analytic work that the various dimensions of psychopathy were differentially related to intelligence. Importantly, virtually all of the research to date has relied on cross-sectional associations. The current study examined whether intelligence scores (verbal comprehension, nonverbal IQ, and a global intelligence composite) at age 8 were associated with psychopathy scores at age 48 in a sample of White, urban male individuals from London (analytical n = 292). Results suggested a significant, but weak, inverse association between intelligence and the affective, lifestyle, and antisocial facets of psychopathy and a nonsignificant association with the interpersonal facet, as assessed by the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting that psychopathy, as conceptualized in most modern models, is either very weakly inversely related to or simply not a correlate of intelligence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The many faces of dark personalities: An examination of the Dark Triad structure using psychometric network analysis

Although the Dark Triad (DT) of personality has been studied for almost two decades, research regarding its structure is lacking, which is pertinent to understanding personality-outcome associations. This study examined the structure of the DT domains, both independently and as a cluster. Initial results were replicated with a validation sample. Participants (Study 1: N = 301; Study 2: N = 224) completed six self-report questionnaires that assess DT domains. Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) was used in a two-step process to identify lower order facets and higher order factors of the DT. EGAs suggested eight facets of Narcissism, six facets of Psychopathy, four facets of Machiavellianism, and four DT factors, as grandiose and vulnerable narcissism formed two separate factors. Network analyses highlighted the central role that Antagonism occupied in the DT network. This study provides support for the feasibility of EGA, especially with traits that may be highly correlated, such as personality components. Results highlight the multidimensionality of the DT domains that existing personality measures fail to comprehensively capture, and the need for further research to refine measurement of the DT domains and Machiavellianism in particular.

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

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.

Predicting animal abuse behaviors with externalizing and psychopathic personality traits

For years, researchers have tried to explain predictive features of psychopathic behavior and externalizing personality traits (Stupperich & Strack, 2016). Among this list is animal abuse. Although animal abuse is commonly linked with psychopathy, previous studies have provided mixed results regarding this relationship and its predictive features (Arluke & Madfis, 2014; Ascione & Shapiro, 2009). The debate on this relationship has led to questions about whether animal abuse could have a stronger connection to a particular facet of psychopathy, rather than the broader construct (Dadds, Whiting, & Hawes, 2006). Therefore, literature calls for examination of the possible link between animal abuse and psychopathy, as well as other externalizing personality traits, which the current study aims to assess. We examined the relationship between psychopathy, as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist- Short Version (PCL:SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995), and a self-reported history of animal abuse perpetration in a sample of 214 jail inmates. Analyses indicated individuals who endorsed a history of animal abuse scored significantly higher than non-abusers on the PCL:SV total score. Indeed, the results also suggested significant differences across the facets of psychopathy. Regarding personality pathology, results did not show any significant association with the domains of personality pathology.

Examining the Relationship Between Victimization, Psychopathy, and the Acceptance of Rape Myths.

Rape myths are attitudes that implicitly and explicitly blame victims for their own sexual victimization. Greater adherence to rape myths is linked to several negative outcomes, including the neutralization of gender-based violence and the perpetration of sexual violence. Few studies have considered how previous life experiences and individual-level traits influence the development and greater adherence to rape myths. The current study examines how traits associated with the three-factor model of psychopathy (i.e., egocentric, callous, and antisocial dimensions) and adherence to traditional gender roles mediate the relationship between prior childhood/adolescent victimization and the acceptance of rape myths in a sample of college men and women (N = 789). Path modeling indicates that experiences of psychological victimization (before age 16) increased egocentric psychopathic traits, which then increased the acceptance of rape myths in men. In women, however, sexual victimization (before age 16) increased the acceptance of traditional gender roles, which then influenced the acceptance of rape myths. Additionally, the egocentric facet of psychopathy exerted indirect effects on the acceptance of rape myths through traditional views on gender roles in both men and women. These findings highlight the need to continue to examine egocentric personality traits in relation to the development of rape myths in adolescent and young adult populations. Directions for collegiate programming are discussed.

The utility of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) facet and item scores in predicting violent recidivism.

There is relatively limited research on psychopathy in non-Caucasian ethnic groups and even less on the utility of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) that focuses on PCL-R facet and item scores in predicting violent recidivism. In this study, we assessed the utility of the PCL-R in prospectively predicting violent versus nonviolent recidivism during an 11-year follow-up window. A high-risk sample of 451 incarcerated Korean male offenders was assessed on the PCL-R at baseline. A total of 445 were reconvicted after release (353 violent and 92 nonviolent recidivists). Psychopathy facet scores were higher in violent compared to nonviolent recidivists. Facet 2 (affective) showed the strongest effect size (Cohen's d = 0.53; Percentage change in odds = 22.6%) in predicting violent recidivism. Analyses of the four items constituting the affective facet indicated that callous/lack of empathy (Percentage change in odds = 134.4%) and failure to accept responsibility (Percentage change in odds = 94.5%) were the strongest predictors of violent recidivism. Findings are to our knowledge the first to document the utility of the PCL-R in distinguishing violent from nonviolent recidivism and highlight the role of affective impairment (particularly lack of empathy) in violent recidivism.

Psychopathy Facets and their Effects on Job Satisfaction and Well- Being: Boldness as a Moderator

Extant research has shown that psychopathy is generally related to poor employee and individual well-being. However, few studies have examined the differential relationship between psychopathic dimensions and well-being outcomes. Drawing from the differential- configuration model of successful psychopathy and using a measure of the triarchic model of psychopathy, this study investigated how psychopathy facets (boldness, meanness, and disinhibition) are uniquely related to job satisfaction, life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Drawing from the moderated-expression model of successful psychopathy, boldness was proposed as a moderator of the meanness-wellbeing relationship. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that boldness was positively related to job satisfaction, life satisfaction, positive affect, and negatively so to negative affect. Meanness was negatively related to job satisfaction and positive affect, whereas disinhibition was negatively associated with life satisfaction and negative affect. Moderation analyses revealed significant interactions of boldness with meanness on job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and positive affect. Findings highlight the differential contribution of psychopathy facets to job satisfaction and personal well-being and the role of boldness as a protective factor.

Emotional modulation of the pupil in psychopathy: A test of the Response Modulation Hypothesis

Some aspects of psychopathy may be underpinned by a deficit in processing emotional information, although there is evidence that this impairment only emerges when the affective cues are not central to ongoing goal-directed behaviour. However, this hypothesis has not been explored previously in relation to autonomic reactivity to emotional stimuli. The current study investigated this in a large (N = 174) community sample by examining changes in pupil diameter, a measure of autonomic nervous system activity, while participants viewed images that were either neutral in content or contained highly arousing/emotional content. Participants' attentional focus was manipulated across two tasks, such that participants either focused on whether the image contained emotional content (emotion-focus) or whether there were people present in the image (alternate-focus). Psychopathy was conceptualised via the Triarchic model of boldness, meanness and disinhibition. As expected, the arousing images caused greater pupil dilation compared to neutral images. However, the magnitude of this dilation was not moderated by any aspect of psychopathy regardless of the participant's attentional focus. It may be that reduced pupil reactivity to emotional stimuli is only expressed at high levels of psychopathy not normally found in community samples, or that participants with high traits of psychopathy in the community were still able to sufficiently attend to the emotional components of the images to overcome any autonomic deficits regardless of their attentional focus. Further research is needed to explore these possibilities.

Reprint of "Executive dysfunction, violence and aggression"

Abstract Executive Functio1ns (EFs) is an umbrella expression used for several processes and subprocesses encompassing goal-oriented behavior and decision-making strategies. However, the extent to which impaired EFs relate to and characterize different types of criminal behavior and aggressiveness is not clear. Similarly, research on the association between EFs and psychopathy has also produced mixed findings. The failure to disaggregate between different types of crime and antisocial individuals can impede the identification of specific neurocognitive mechanisms associated with crime. We reviewed the extent to which EFs (according to Miyake latent variable analysis) are associated with violent and non-violent crime, impulsive and premeditated aggression as well as psychopathic traits. Findings, although nonconsensual, suggest a more nuanced view on the association between EFs and crime, suggesting that different executive domains might be more compromised in violent and impulsive individuals, and specific psychopathy facets are more associated with executive dysfunction and criminality. Studies in line with this approach will allow offenders to benefit from intervention strategies that will address their specific deficits, optimizing their EFs and contributing to better cognitive management in demanding and complex situations, such as criminal and violent deterrence.

A Multi-Informant Study of the Validity of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in a Sample of Norwegian Adolescents with Behavior Problems

The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional traits (ICU) is a widely used measure of the affective aspects of psychopathy in children and adolescents. Although a 3-bifactor model of the ICU has often been supported, method-variance effects and mixed results for the Unemotional subscale raise concerns. This study applied a multi-informant design to investigate the structural and concurrent validity of the self-, parent- and teacher-versions of the ICU in a Norwegian at-risk adolescent sample (N = 160, female = 46.3%, mean age = 14.73 years, SD = 1.47). Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated method-variance effects of the standard- and reverse-scored items. The best fitting model was the 12-item 2-factor ICU, comprising a Callousness and an Uncaring factor. The scale reliabilities were acceptable with Cronbach alphas ranging from .810 to .906 across respondent groups. Cross-rater reliability was poor, with Intra Class Correlations ranging from .170 to .226. The concurrent validity of the ICU12 was supported by within-rater associations to externalizing problems, aggression, and problematic alcohol use. Cross-rater associations of ICU12-scores to self-reported delinquency and lower levels of anxiety, provided additional support for the concurrent validity. The unidimensional ICU12 total score was associated both to delinquency and rule-breaking behavior as observed for the Callousness factor and to lack of anxiety and reduced fear sensitivity as observed for the Uncaring factor. The ICU items aimed at capturing lack of prosocial emotions, seem to need revision. Future research should assess the predictive validity and clinical relevance of unidimensional versus factor models of the ICU.

Executive dysfunction, violence and aggression

Abstract Executive Functions (EFs) is an umbrella expression used for several processes and subprocesses encompassing goal-oriented behavior and decision-making strategies. However, the extent to which impaired EFs relate to and characterize different types of criminal behavior and aggressiveness is not clear. Similarly, research on the association between EFs and psychopathy has also produced mixed findings. The failure to disaggregate between different types of crime and antisocial individuals can impede the identification of specific neurocognitive mechanisms associated with crime. We reviewed the extent to which EFs (according to Miyake latent variable analysis) are associated with violent and non-violent crime, impulsive and premeditated aggression as well as psychopathic traits. Findings, although nonconsensual, suggest a more nuanced view on the association between EFs and crime, suggesting that different executive domains might be more compromised in violent and impulsive individuals, and specific psychopathy facets are more associated with executive dysfunction and criminality. Studies in line with this approach will allow offenders to benefit from intervention strategies that will address their specific deficits, optimizing their EFs and contributing to better cognitive management in demanding and complex situations, such as criminal and violent deterrence.

Further Evaluation of the Associations Between Psychopathic Traits and Symptoms of PTSD and Depression in a Nonclinical Sample.

Examining psychopathic traits at the factor or facet level has revealed that various aspects of psychopathy may be differentially related, even in opposing directions, to important outcomes (e.g., intelligence, emotion regulation). Empirical work on relations between psychopathy and internalizing disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, has provided evidence for a positive association with antisocial traits. However, findings for the affective domain have been more equivocal. The current study (N = 732) sought to replicate past findings of the positive association of antisocial psychopathic traits with higher levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms, and to further explore associations between affective traits of psychopathy and these disorders using two measures of psychopathy. Results confirmed prior findings of a positive correlation between antisocial features and self-reported PTSD/Depression symptom severity, but they did not provide evidence for any association with affective traits. Future research using longitudinal designs is needed to begin establishing temporal ordering of the psychopathy-internalizing relationship.

The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Psychopathy, Crime, and Prison Violence in Women.

There is a growing interest in understanding the consequences of parental incarceration. Unfortunately, research exploring the long-term criminological and personality effects in female offspring is limited, particularly among second-generation female offenders. In a sample of 170 female offenders, we first assessed the correlations between psychopathy facets, prison violence, and types of crime. Next, we tested the association between childhood exposure to paternal and/or maternal incarceration on adulthood psychopathic traits, criminal offending, and prospective prison violence over 12 months. Correlations showed the interpersonal facet was positively correlated with fraud-related crime and prison violence. The affective facet was positively correlated with violent crime and prison violence. The behavioral facet was associated with prison violence and drug-related crime. Multinomial logistic regressions showed higher interpersonal facet scores were associated with an increased likelihood of having experienced paternal incarceration. Higher affective facet scores, violent crime, and prison violence were associated with an increased likelihood of having experienced maternal incarceration, regardless of if the father had been incarcerated or not. It is evident that having any parent incarcerated during childhood can be harmful to daughters; however, our findings dovetail with prior research showing that maternal incarceration leads to more detrimental outcomes for women.

Are all features of psychopathy associated with decreased health? Psychopathy, dysfunctional family characteristics, and health problems in convicts

Previous research suggested that psychopathy is related to diminished physical and mental health. However, this link could be specific to psychopathic lifestyle and antisocial behavior, while manipulative characteristics and emotional superficiality could be unrelated or even positively related to physical and mental health. Furthermore, psychopathic features could mediate the link between detrimental family characteristics and health problems. We tested these hypotheses in a sample of male convicts (N = 224). Psychopathy was explored via a rating method (PCL?R). Dysfunctional family characteristics were extracted from participants? prison files. Finally, self-reported biographical data was used to estimate problems in physical and mental health. Behavioral psychopathy tendencies and especially impulsive and erratic behavior turned out to be positively related both to physical and mental health problems. On the other hand, Interpersonal and Affective psychopathy features were mostly unrelated or negatively related to health problems. Finally, Antisocial and especially Lifestyle characteristics turned out to be significant mediators of the link between dysfunctional family characteristics and health problems. Research results showed that narrow psychopathy facets are differentially related to health status. Psychopathic lifestyle and criminal behavior are positively related with problems in physical and mental health, while manipulative characteristics and affective shallowness are associated with better health. The results are in accordance with the concept of successful psychopathy and evolutionary accounts on psychopathy.

Centrality and redundancy of the Dark Tetrad traits

The aim of this research was to examine centrality and redundancy of the Dark Tetrad traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and sadism) using network analysis. The first sample (N = 546) was assessed using a short instrument, the second (N = 404) and the third (N = 410) samples were assessed with full instruments for the first three dark traits, while for sadism the same instrument was used in all three studies. The results showed that psychopathy is the central feature across all networks, especially its facets which correspond to primary psychopathy or interpersonal manipulation and callousness. Narcissism seemed redundant when total scores of the dark traits were analyzed, but these results should be interpreted with caution given the small number of variables in the network. However, on the facet level, some facets of psychopathy were redundant (secondary psychopathy or lack of cognitive responsiveness). These results reiterate the importance of psychopathy in the core of the dark traits and provide a deeper insight into the relations between the Dark Tetrad traits.

Examining Psychopathic Traits in Children Using the Child Psychopathy Scale - Revised.

Applying the affective dimension of psychopathy to youth has advanced understanding of conduct problems in youth, leading to suggestions that other aspects of psychopathy may do the same. This was addressed in the present study by examining the structure and validity of psychopathic traits in elementary-age children as rated by mothers and teachers on the Child Psychopathy Scale - Revised (CPS-R). Participants were 222 children (80.2% male; Mage = 8.92), the majority (71.6%) of whom met criteria for both ADHD and conduct problems. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a four-factor model consisting of prosocial-empathic (PE), grandiose-manipulative (GM), emotionally volatile (EV), and attentive-planful(AP) factors. The CPS-R demonstrated good criterion validity with well-established measures of child behavior problems and callousness. The EV and AP factors demonstrate incremental validity by moderating the relation between conduct problems and impairment. Latent profiles supported a three-profile solution for mothers and a four-profile solution for teachers, with profiles consisting of one group low, one group moderate, and one high on all measures for both informants, and a fourth group that was high on all measures except CD and limited PE. Profiles differed significantly from each other on callousness and impairment, with limited PE being the best differentiator of youth highest in antisocial behavior based on mother and teacher report. Findings suggest that mothers and teachers may be able to identify children at risk for a more negative trajectory of antisocial behavior, that it is worthwhile to examine multiple psychopathy dimensions (rather than just the affective dimension), and that the CPS-R may be useful to screen for youth who are most likely to display more severe antisocial behavior and impairment.

Modeling Relations Between Triarchic Biobehavioral Traits and DSM Internalizing Disorder Dimensions.

The biobehavioral traits of the triarchic model of psychopathy have well-known correlates with externalizing psychopathology. Although evidence also suggests associations with internalizing disorders, research has yet to formally model relationships between dimensions of internalizing psychopathology and triarchic traits. Employing a sample of 218 adults (50.2% female), the current study used confirmatory factor analysis to characterize how triarchic trait dimensions-delineated using different scale operationalizations-relate to internalizing when modeled as a single broad factor, and as distinct fear and distress subfactors. Findings demonstrated (a) robust opposing relations for triarchic boldness (+) and disinhibition (-), and an interactive association for the two, with general internalizing, along with a modest negative relationship for meanness; and (b) distinct associations for the three triarchic trait dimensions with fear and distress subfactors of internalizing. This work clarifies how facets of psychopathy relate to the internalizing psychopathology spectrum and provides a means for interfacing this spectrum with biological variables.