Measures Of Psychopathy Research Articles

Examining the Relationship Between the Dimensions of the Triarchic Model of Psychopathy and Externalizing Disorders in Male Adolescents

ABSTRACT The Triarchic model of psychopathy posits that psychopathy is a composite of phenotypic constructs related to boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. The present research aimed to examine the relationship between behavioral problems (e.g. externalizing disorders) and the dimensions of the Triarchic model of psychopathy (i.e. boldness, meanness, and disinhibition) in adolescents. Most research on psychopathy has focused on adults. In order to understand the origins and predictors of the emergence of psychopathy, there is a need for a study of predictors of the dimensions of psychopathy before adulthood, including adolescents. The study population consisted of 341 male high school students in MASKED FOR REVIEW, who were selected through convenience sampling. The participants completed the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) questionnaire and The Achenbach Self-Report Form for Behavioral Problems. The results were analyzed using stepwise regression analysis with SPSS version 23. Among the study variables, Disinhibition was most closely related to externalizing disorders. The stepwise regression analysis also showed a significant relationship between externalizing disorders and meanness. However, there was no significant relationship between boldness and externalizing disorders. The Psychopathy Measure holds promise for better assessment and understanding of the behavior problems potentially predictive of the dimensions of psychopathic personality in institutions and clinics.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of triarchic psychopathy measure (TriPM) in portuguese adolescents

Psychopathy is a personality structure characterized by a set of dysfunctional traits, impulsive and irresponsible behavior, a poor and arrogant personal style in social interactions, and a lack of prosocial emotions. Although it cannot be diagnosed in adolescents, there have been references to its presence in its population. There is substantial evidence indicating a correlation between psychopathy and antisocial and criminal behavior in young people. It is therefore important that psychopathic traits be identified as early as possible to predict and control future criminal behavior. However, the specific evaluation instruments for this population are scarce. The aim of the present study is to validate an instrument for the evaluation of psychopathy, the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), for use with this population. The questionnaires were applied a validation sample of 793 young or Portuguese adolescents. A confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) was performed, and the results found were considered satisfactory, χ2(1350) = 5980.77, p < .001, RMSEA = .067 (95% CI = [.064 - .068]), CFI = .915, TLI = .910, and SRMR = .080.

Reliability and Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality-Self-Report-German Version (CAPP-SR-GV) in a German Non-Criminal Sample.

The structure of psychopathy is conceptualized differently in various models and no consensus has yet been reached. This study aimed to further clarify psychopathy's content and structure by validating the German Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality-Self-Report (CAPP-SR). For this purpose, we used a sample of n = 458 participants. The CAPP's six factors were replicated in an exploratory factor analysis. Further confirmatory analysis revealed recommendations for optimizing the CAPP. Thus, both an optimized version and the original CAPP-SR were examined. The construct validity of both versions was then examined using a different self-rating instrument for psychopathy, the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. The implications of the findings and further research directions are discussed.

Gender differences and the association between the phenomenological characteristics of autobiographical memories and psychopathic traits in a university student sample

ABSTRACT The study aimed to analyse the relationship between the dimensions of the triarchic model of psychopathy (meanness, boldness and disinhibition) and the phenomenological characteristics of Autobiographical Memory (AM) in a sample of university students, examining potential gender differences. Participants (N = 260; 55.4% women; aged 18-25) performed an AM task, followed by the Autobiographical Memory Characteristics Questionnaire and the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. We found gender differences, with men scoring higher than women in meanness and disinhibition as well as in precision, accessibility, sharing and narrative coherence of AM. Correlations showed that boldness was negatively related to the valence and emotional intensity of the memory. Meanness was positively associated with precision, sensory details, accessibility, sharing, narrative coherence, distancing and preoccupation with emotions and negatively with recollection. Disinhibition was positively related to precision, sensory details and accessibility and negatively to intensity, distancing and preoccupation with emotions. Our results suggest that psychopathic traits could predict certain characteristics of AM, highlighting the predictive value of meanness, especially regarding memory quality characteristics (e.g., precision), as well as disinhibition, concerning the emotional content (e.g., preoccupation with emotions). Our results contribute to understanding psychopathy through an autobiographical perspective, showing how psychopathic traits may shape how people remember personal events.

Locating triarchic model constructs in the hierarchical structure of a comprehensive trait-based psychopathy measure: Implications for research and clinical assessment.

The triarchic model posits that distinct trait constructs of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition underlie psychopathy. The triarchic model traits are conceptualized as biobehavioral dimensions that can be assessed using different sets of indicators from alternative measurement modalities; as such, the triarchic model would hypothesize that these traits are not confined to any one item set. The present study tested whether the triarchic model dimensions would emerge from a hierarchical-structural analysis of the facet scales of the Elemental Psychopathy Assessment (EPA), an inventory designed to comprehensively index psychopathy according to the five-factor personality model. Study participants (Ns = 811, 170) completed the EPA and three different scale sets assessing the triarchic traits along with criterion measures of antisocial/externalizing behaviors. Bass-ackwards modeling of the EPA facet scales revealed a four-level structure, with factors at the third level appearing similar to the triarchic trait dimensions. An analysis in which scores for the Level-3 EPA factors were regressed onto corresponding latent-trait dimensions defined using the different triarchic scale sets revealed extremely high convergence (βs = .84-.91). The Level-3 EPA factors also evidenced validity in relation to relevant criteria, approximating and sometimes exceeding that evident for the Level-4 EPA factors. Together, these results indicate that the triarchic trait constructs are embedded in a psychopathy inventory designed to align with a general personality model and effectively predict pertinent external criteria. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Validation of the Revised Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interests (SSPI-2) in Portugal.

The accurate assessment of pedophilic sexual interests is crucial for the treatment and management of individuals who have sexually offended children. This study aimed to validate the Revised Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interests (SSPI-2) in a Portuguese sample of 170 men convicted of sexual offenses against children, 104 serving sentences in the community, and 66 in prison. The findings indicated that SSPI-2 demonstrated good convergent validity, as evidenced by its significant and positive associations with the "sexual deviance" item of SVR-20, the number of previous convictions for sexual crimes against children, and having 3 or more child victims, which is associated with high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing men who show greater sexual arousal to children than to adults. Furthermore, the SSPI-2 exhibited good divergent validity, with no significant correlations observed with a self-report measure of psychopathy or with a nonsexual criminal history.

Examining the Criterion and Incremental Validity of the MMPI-3 Impulsivity Scale.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) includes a new Impulsivity (IMP) scale designed to assess for poor impulse-control and non-planful behavior, which was added to broaden the utility of the instrument. The current study aimed to examine the criterion and incremental validity of the IMP scale. A university student sample (n = 1,440) and a community sample oversampled for externalizing tendencies (n = 231) were used for this purpose, and IMP scores were compared to scores on various well-validated criterion measures of impulsivity and externalizing psychopathology. To examine the scale's incremental validity, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine whether IMP adds to other MMPI-3 Specific Problem (SP) scales in the prediction of relevant criteria. The IMP scale primarily showed meaningful correlations with the Negative Urgency and Positive Urgency on the UPPS-P. Significant correlations were also observed with the cognitive, behavioral, disinhibition, and lifestyle domains of various psychopathy measures, as well as measures of antisocial personality disorder and substance use. The IMP scale scores accounted for incremental variance in most of the directly relevant criterion measures above and beyond scores of other MMPI-3 SP scales. Several important caveats, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Psychopathy, psychological distress, and treatment history among perpetrators of intimate partner femicide, homicide, and other violent crimes in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Intimate partner femicide—the killing of women based on their gender by their former or current partners—is a global long-standing manifestation of violence against women. Despite the enactment of femicide-specific laws in Latin America, femicide rates have remained relatively constant throughout the last decade. Often perpetrators are pathologized as suffering from mental illness, yet the data on their mental health status is still relatively unknown. Thus, more research is needed to understand the extent of poor mental health among these individuals. The purpose of this study was to compare levels of psychopathy, psychological distress, and treatment history among an all-male sample of intimate partner femicide perpetrators, male-male homicide perpetrators, and offenders convicted of other violent crimes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey based on data derived from a two-stage sampling strategy. The questionnaire included two standardized instruments for the measurement of psychopathy (revised Psychopathy checklist and the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale) and one for general distress (Spanish version of 12-item General Health Questionnaire). The final sample included 205 prisoners including 68 intimate partner femicide perpetrators, 73 homicide perpetrators, and 64 individuals convicted of other violent crimes. There were no significant differences across these groups based on their socio-demographic characteristics. Participants did not differ in terms of their psychopathology; however, femicide perpetrators were statistically more likely to experience psychological distress. In addition, femicide perpetrators self-reported more prior episodes of mental and substance use treatments. The findings of increased psychological distress and prior mental health and substance use treatment among femicide perpetrators suggest that there may be missed opportunities for femicide prevention within the public health subspecialties of mental health and substance use disorders. This study suggests that femicide perpetrators likely require distinctive interventions, including self-assessments and harm mitigation tactics, to prevent their potential for femicide perpetration.

Construct Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality – Self-Report Form (CAPP-SR)

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a concept map developed to consolidate research on psychopathy. Recently, the CAPP – Self Report form (CAPP-SR) was developed, but its psychometric properties have not been extensively or independently investigated. The current study evaluated the internal consistency, factorial structure, and construct validity of the CAPP-SR in a large sample of undergraduate and community participants. No organizational structure was superior, but a theoretically supported three factor solution representing behavioral, affective, and interpersonal traits appeared to be the optimal solution. The CAPP-SR demonstrated overlap with other preexisting psychopathy measures and the three-factor solution evinced relatively good convergent and discriminant associations with external criteria. The CAPP-SR seems to measure a similar construct to psychopathy measures, though it remains unclear whether the new measure captures meaningful information neglected by other models or outperforms them in prediction of important outcomes.

Is the fact of having been victims of childhood emotional abuse and/or neglect found in the aggressors’ history?

Background: Early exposure to trauma and stressors can hinder development and accumulate stress over one's lifetime, leading to adverse long-term outcomes. Objective: This study aims to investigate whether individuals exhibiting aggressive behavior may have been victims of emotional abuse and/or neglect during childhood. These experiences profoundly impact development, persisting into adulthood. Four hypotheses were formulated to guide the investigation. Methods: The sample comprised 615 Portuguese adults aged 18 and above. Data collection utilized various instruments including a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Impulsive and Premeditated Aggression Scale, the Life History of Aggression Scale, the Childhood Adversity History Questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale, the Personality Inventory, and the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. Results and Conclusions: The hypotheses were confirmed, indicating a positive correlation between childhood emotional abuse/neglect and adult aggressive behavior, emotional regulation challenges, elevated neuroticism, openness to experience, boldness, disinhibition, and meanness. Also, emotional regulation difficulties, personality traits, and psychopathy fully mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and impulsive/ premeditated aggression, as well as between a history of aggression and impulsive/ premeditated aggression.

Developing an index to assess malignant narcissism in patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder using measures of pathological narcissism and psychopathy.

Developing an index to assess malignant narcissism in patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder using measures of pathological narcissism and psychopathy.

Validity of the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (E-LSRP) in a Brazilian Sample: Factor Structure, Construct Validity, and Associations with the Brazilian Jeitinho

ABSTRACT We aimed to adapt the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (E-LSRP) to the Brazilian context, evaluate its internal structure and construct validity. We also aimed to expand the psychopathy nomological network by providing information about E-LSRP factors’ associations with a Brazilian cultural phenomenon known as Brazilian Jeitinho. Our sample comprised 1,445 Brazilian adults, with ages varying from 18 to 81 years (M = 31.13; SD = 13.22). The participants completed the E-LSRP, as well as the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure, Crime and Analogous Behavior Scale, Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy, and Brazilian Jeitinho Questionnaire. Results showed general support for a three-factor structure, and that E-LSRP scores exhibited the expected associations with external criterion measures. Our results demonstrated that E-LSRP Egocentricity was the factor most related to Brazilian Jeitinho. Although we have initial validity evidence supporting the Brazilian version of E-LSRP, future studies need to replicate these findings in other samples.

The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD): External Correlates and Incremental Validity over Alternate Psychopathy Measures

The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD): External Correlates and Incremental Validity over Alternate Psychopathy Measures

Supplemental Material for Locating Triarchic Model Constructs in the Hierarchical Structure of a Comprehensive Trait-Based Psychopathy Measure: Implications for Research and Clinical Assessment

Supplemental Material for Locating Triarchic Model Constructs in the Hierarchical Structure of a Comprehensive Trait-Based Psychopathy Measure: Implications for Research and Clinical Assessment

Online and Unkind: Examining the Personality Correlates of Online Political Incivility

Many forms of online political incivility threaten democratic norms, contribute to polarization, and are often directed at women and racial minorities. Recent research shows that online political incivility may come from a minority of users that are just as hostile offline as they are online, meaning that individual differences in personality traits may be an important predictor of online political incivility. Drawing upon a large sample of adults living in Canada (N = 1725), we examined the association between personality traits and online political incivility using robust measures of psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and the general traits of the HEXACO. While controlling for a variety of sociodemographic and political variables, we found that people who score higher in honesty-humility, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, as well as the planfulness facet of Machiavellianism, are less likely to report engagement in online political incivility. People who score higher in extraversion, several facets of psychopathy, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, and antagonistic Machiavellianism, by contrast, are more likely to report engagement in online political incivility. In general, the personality traits that predict offline aggression and antisocial behaviour tend to be the same traits that predict self-reports of vulgarity, stereotyping, and threats in online political discussions. Interventions to reduce online incivility may benefit from considering the dispositional tendencies of uncivil users.

The relationship between cerebral asymmetry and measures of psychopathy in a non-clinical sample is moderated by both empathic challenge and biological sex

This study investigated the relationship between psychopathy, as assessed by the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale, and cerebral laterality. EEG recordings from frontal cortex (L3 and L4) were taken during both resting conditions and while viewing a video of an emergency field amputation, used as an empathic challenge. The ratio of alpha power from the two recording site was taken as an index of relative activity in the two hemispheres. Eighty three students from the University subject pool were recruited as participants. Male participants had a significantly higher mean LSRP score than did female participants. While LSRP scores were unrelated to cerebral laterality under resting conditions, there was both a significant linear and quadratic negative relationship between LSRP scores and relative left-hemisphere alpha activity. As alpha activity has been reported to be inversely related to brain or mental activity, a negative relationship can be inferred between LSRP scores and right hemisphere neural activity. The female participants had a much stronger quadratic relationship than did the combined sample, while the male sample showed only weak, non-significant relationships. Our data suggest that the relationship between psychopathy and cerebral laterality may be sexually dimorphic.

How psychopathy is associated with the level and change of impulsivity in correctional treatment

IntroductionResearch indicates that psychopathy can hinder treatment success and can lead to dropout. Impulsivity is a complex construct that overlaps with psychopathic personality traits and is often targeted in forensic psychotherapy due to its relation to the risk of reoffending.ObjectivesOur aim was to investigate the overlap between psychopathy and impulsivity and the influence of psychopathic traits on change in impulsivity.MethodsWe conducted a pre-post-study for measures of psychopathy and impulsivity in men imprisoned for sexual and non-sexual violent offenses. All participants took part in standardized pre- and post-treatment ratings shortly after admission as well as after an average of 19 months (n=370 for pre-rating, n=168 for post-rating). Psychopathy was measured via the PCL-R, impulsivity with the BIS-15.We calculated two-tailed Pearson correlations for BIS-15 Pre-, Post-, and Change Scores and the PCL-R. In a second step, the BIS-15 pre-post-differences were compared using independent t-Tests, effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d (small, medium, and large effect sizes are d = .20, .50, and .80). Further, unpaired t-tests were carried out to compare between participants with lower and higher PCL-R sum scores (median split, mdn= 15.8, M=15.5, SD=7.9).ResultsIn the total population a significant reduction of self assessed impuslivity can be demonstrated for total impulsivity (p<.001, cohens d= .34) nonplanned (p<.001, cohens d= .39) and motor impulsivity (p=.004, cohens d= .23). In both groups, with higher and lower psychopathic traits, a significant reduction in total and nonplannend impulsivity can be seen.While the reduction in total impulsivity was 0.9 points higher in the group with higher psychopathy, the difference was not significant, t(147.8)= -1.1, p = .285. Also, the nonplanned impulsivity was showed a stronger reduction in the high PCL group, though the effect was not significant, t, t(166)= -1.2, p = .243.Table 1.Correlationen between BIS-15 post-ratings and PCL-RPCL-R PCL-R Sum Interpersonal affective lifestyleantisocialBIS-15 prä (n=370)Total Impulsivity.20 **-.14 **.02.34 **.28 **BIS-15 post (n=168)Total Impulsivity.33**.04.20**.35**.36**BIS-15 Change (n=168)Total Impulsivity-.03-.15-.09.07.01Note: * correlation significant für p ≤ .05; ** correlation significant für p ≤ .001.ConclusionsWe demonstrate a significant correlation between psychopathy and impulsivity, especially regarding facets 3 and 4, but also for the sum score. Neither the PCL-R sum core, nor the facets correlate with the change in impulsivity during treatment progress in the STU. In both groups, with higher and lower psychopathy, impulsivity was reduced during therapy but there was no significant difference in the change scores. Our results underline that treatment progress can be achieved also in patients with higher psychopathic traits.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The relationship between psychopathy facets and types of criminal offences

AbstractThe Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL‐R) is a widely used measurement of psychopathy comprising interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial facets representing narrow‐band characteristics associated with the construct. However, there is little research on whether the distinct facets of psychopathy show specialised relationships with different types of criminal offences. The PCL‐R was administered to 138 adults incarcerated at a county jail. Arrests were coded into broad categories (i.e., crimes against persons, property or society), as well as for specific offence types (e.g. burglary, assault) using US crime definitions. Zero‐order correlations and zero‐inflated regression models showed significant relationships between: the lifestyle facet and property and societal crimes, mainly drug offences; the affective facet and crimes against persons; and the antisocial facet with all three major crime categories, as well as burglary, motor vehicle theft, robbery and assault. Overall, these results indicate that the PCL‐R facets offer unique information about specific forms of criminal behaviour.

Do Psychopathic Traits, Sexual Victimisation Experiences and Emotional Intelligence Predict Attitudes Towards Rape? Examining the Psychosocial correlates of Rape Myth Beliefs among a cross-sectional community sample

Vast research has sought to better understand the origins and development of rape myth beliefs given the problematic influence of such misconceptions throughout global societies and criminal justice pathways. The current research aims to build on this body of literature by examining the contribution that psychopathic personality traits (affective responsiveness, cognitive responsiveness, interpersonal manipulation, egocentricity) and emotional intelligence may have upon rape myth beliefs. Furthermore, this study will investigate the extent to which sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, education), and prior experience of sexual victimisation, contribute to variance in rape myth acceptance scores. In total 251 participants (M Age = 31.66) completed an online, self-report questionnaire which included contemporary measures of psychopathy and rape myth acceptance, never previously tested in combination. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicate that egocentricity, age, and gender were significantly associated with rape myth beliefs. Emotional intelligence, as well as affective and interpersonal traits of psychopathy, were not directly related with rape mythology. Findings are interpreted alongside previous research, where we suggest there is an urgent need for larger, nationally representative samples, systematically recruited from the general population to help clarify uncertainty in existing literature emerging from small-scale opportunistic datasets.

Validation of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale in the non-institutionalized Lebanese population

BackgroundPsychopathy has been described as “the first personality disorder to be recognized in psychiatry”. It has three core features: affective, interpersonal, and behavioral. The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale is used to screen for and measure psychopathy. Our study aims to validate the LSRP as a tool to measure psychopathy in the non-institutionalized Lebanese population.MethodsWe surveyed Lebanese individuals residing in Lebanon and aged 18 through 65. It was a convenience sample collected via an online survey. 534 Lebanese participants completed the survey and were included in our analyses. Nearly 80% were female, 90% were college educated, and 60% were employed. We used exploratory graph analysis and confirmatory factor analyses to measure internal validity of the LSRP. We also used the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R), the Subtypes of Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire (STAB), and the Short version of the Urgency, Premeditation (lack of), Perseverance (lack of), Sensation Seeking, Positive Urgency, Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P) to measure external validity of LSRP.ResultsThe exploratory graph analysis showed that the LSRP had a three-factor structure (Egocentric, Callous and Antisocial) in the Lebanese population. This three-factor structure (RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.83, SRMR = 0.06) yielded a better fit than the two-factor, and three-factor Brinkley models. The LSRP was negatively correlated with the Honesty-Humility dimension of the HEXACO-PI-R and positively correlated with the STAB and S-UPPS-P subscales.ConclusionsThe LSRP scale is a valid measure of psychopathy in the Lebanese non-institutionalized population, adding to the currently limited literature addressing psychopathy in the Arab World.