Psychopathic Personality Traits Research Articles

Investigating the role of psychopathic personality traits, gender and ethnicity in rape myth acceptance

Research has found widespread endorsement of rape mythology, with several psychosocial variables underpinning beliefs in rape myths, including psychopathic personality traits. However, findings on the relationship between psychopathy and rape myths are often contradictory. The current study examined the role of four psychopathic personality traits (Affective Responsiveness, Cognitive Responsiveness, Interpersonal Manipulation and Egocentricity) on Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA) scores, controlling for the effects of gender and ethnicity while making use of subtle, contemporary measurement tools never previously employed. A cross-sectional community sample (N = 228) were recruited online to complete the psychosocial survey. Results revealed that deficits in Affective and Cognitive Responsiveness were associated with increased rape myth beliefs. Gender and ethnicity were also significant predictors of RMA. Cognitive Responsiveness, though not Affective Responsiveness, continued to be a significant predictor of RMA after controlling for gender and ethnicity. The role of empathy traits in the aetiology of sexually aggressive attitudes are discussed.

Morality, self-control, age, type of offence and sentence length as predictors of psychopathy amongst female incarcerated offenders in South Africa.

There has been an increase in female incarcerated offenders nationally and internationally. Despite this trend, literature and research on female offenders remain limited compared to their male counterparts. Evidence of the relationship between certain personality disorders and offending behaviour has led numerous countries to prioritise identifying and assessing personality disorders among the offender population. Psychopathic personality traits may contribute to women's risk factors for expressing antisocial behaviours, resulting in their potential future incarceration. Thus, a need exists to understand possible factors that may predict the expression of psychopathic traits in females, which may have notable utility among female offenders. This study aimed to investigate possible predictor variables of psychopathy amongst incarcerated female offenders in South Africa. A quantitative research approach, non-experimental research type, and correlational research design were employed. A convenience sampling technique was used. The sample consisted of 139 (N = 139) female offenders housed in two correctional centres in South Africa who voluntarily participated in this study. Correlation analyses and hierarchical regression analysis procedures were conducted to analyse the results. Results indicated (i) a certain combination of predictor variables that statistically and practically significantly explained both primary and secondary psychopathy and (ii) individual predictor variables (e.g., Impulsivity, Simple Tasks, Risk-Seeking, and Self-Centredness) that explained both primary and secondary psychopathy statistically and practically significantly. This study provides valuable information about the possible predictor variables of psychopathy amongst female offenders within the context of South Africa. However, further research must be conducted to validate these findings and advance our knowledge on this topic.

Childhood trauma and psychopathy: The moderating role of resilience.

Despite accumulating evidence of significant albeit moderate associations between childhood trauma and psychopathy, little is known about the potential moderators of these associations. To advance knowledge in this area, the present study investigated the moderating role of resilience in the childhood trauma-psychopathy link. A community sample of 521 adult participants from the Netherlands (40.1% men; Mage = 35.27 years, SD = 15.99) completed two self-report questionnaires measuring psychopathic personality traits: a self-report measure of resilience and a retrospective measure of childhood traumatic experiences. Correlation analyses were employed to investigate bivariate associations among study variables. Moderated multiple regression analyses with bootstrapping followed by simple slope analyses were employed to examine Childhood Trauma × Resilience interactions in predicting scores of psychopathy subscales. Childhood trauma had small positive associations with psychopathic traits across the board, with the exception of a small negative association with boldness traits, as well as a small negative association with resilience. Resilience was strongly and positively related to boldness, and negatively related to affective (callousness, meanness) and behavioral (antisocial, disinhibition) traits of psychopathy. Resilience moderated six out of seven associations between childhood trauma and psychopathic traits. Resilience appeared to represent a significant buffer in the associations between childhood traumatic experiences and psychopathic traits, such that these associations became weaker and nonsignificant (and even negative for boldness) at higher levels compared to lower levels of resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychometric properties of the Child Problematic Traits Inventory in Portuguese children

Abstract: The Child Problematic Traits Inventory (CPTI) is a teacher-reported instrument to assess psychopathic personality traits in 3 to 6-year-old children (M=4.78, SD=.60). This is the first study to test the reliability and validity of this instrument within a Portuguese sample of 264 children aged between 3 to 6 years (43.2% female). Cronbach alpha values greater than .80 were observed for all CPTI scale scores. Regarding the criterion validity, CPTI total and its three dimensions were significantly correlated with an alternative measure of impulsiveness. The CPTI items loaded differently on the three theoretically proposed factors: (1) Interpersonal/Grandiose-Deceitful, (2) Affective/Callous-Unemotional, and (3) Behavioral/Impulsive-Need for Stimulation. The Total CPTI and the three dimensions of CPTI were significantly correlated with the alternative measure of Impulsiveness – CBQ Impulsivity subscale (r=.37Total; .29Interpersonal; .26Affective; .45Behavioral). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the CPTI is a psychometrically sound measure to assess psychopathic personality traits in a sample of community-residing Portuguese children.

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.

Predicting Academic Dishonesty: The Role of Psychopathic Traits, Perception of Academic Dishonesty, Moral Disengagement and Motivation

AbstractThis study conducted on a sample of 295 Dutch and Italian undergraduate and graduate students aims to investigate how psychopathic personality traits (meanness, boldness and disinhibition) may lead to cheating behavior, and to study whether there are correlations between psychopathic traits, motivation, moral disengagement, the perception of seriousness of academic dishonesty and frequency of academic dishonesty to try to better understand what causes students to cheat and engage in dishonest conduct. Results confirmed the key role of psychopathic traits, particularly the disinhibition aspect in predicting academic dishonesty. In addition, it was shown that students’ perceptions of what constitutes academic dishonesty and what does not are also important in predicting the frequency of dishonest behavior. Furthermore, the role of motivation and moral disengagement in predicting and mediating the relationship between traits of psychopathy and academic dishonesty were analyzed through mediation and regression analysis.

Social exclusion evokes different psychophysiological responses in individuals high on the psychopathy facets fearless dominance and self-centered impulsivity.

Individuals with psychopathic personality traits are generally thought to have difficulties in processing and experiencing emotions. These difficulties could also translate to emotionally charged social situations such as social exclusion. Being socially excluded is often experienced as stressful and unpleasant, potentially even leading to selfish or aggressive behavior-both of which are linked to certain aspects of psychopathy. The current study investigated self-report and physiological responses to social exclusion in the cyberball paradigm in a carefully selected community sample of individuals either scoring high on primary (N = 24) or secondary psychopathy traits (N = 17). Across the sample, the cyberball paradigm decreased experiences of joy and approach motivation, increased subjective anger reports, and induced changes in heart rate. In contrast, individuals scoring high on secondary psychopathy traits (Self-Centered Impulsivity group) displayed stronger physiological reactivity during a habituation phase of prolonged social exclusion than individuals scoring high on primary psychopathy traits (Fearless Dominance group), indexed by changes in skin conductance level. Moreover, a potential mismatch between self-reported and physiological arousal seemed to be only observable in individuals with high secondary psychopathy traits. Overall, the current results suggest diverging patterns of emotional processing and regulation in a social exclusion situation when comparing well-functioning individuals with varying psychopathy traits. It seemed as if individuals high on primary psychopathy traits were insensitive to contextual social cues, while individuals high on secondary psychopathy traits were more affected by the potentially threatening social situation. Cautiously transferring the current findings to forensic samples, they support the idea of moving from a behavioral understanding of the psychopathy construct to a more clinical picture with distinct cognitive and emotional processing patterns in individuals high on either primary or secondary psychopathy traits.

The role of parent-adolescent relationship quality and callous-unemotional traits on sexual prejudice in adolescence

Sexual prejudice negatively impacts our society and commonly manifests itself in hostile attitudes and aggressive behavior toward people who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community. Adolescents in particular are vulnerable to such negative world views. The present study investigated the impact of the parent-adolescent relationship quality, the potentially associated manifestation of psychopathic personality traits—so-called callous-unemotional (CU) traits—and their relation to sexual prejudice in adolescence. We observed that poor maternal relationship quality in terms of poor communication, lack of trust, and alienation is associated with selfish, cold-hearted personality traits. Moreover, we observed an indirect effect of CU-traits mediating the link between maternal relationship quality and antigay hostile attitudes and behavior. Our findings emphasize the crucial role of attachment in the development of a child's affective personality.

Is Psychopathy a Dynamic Risk Factor? An Empirical Investigation of Changes in Psychopathic Personality Traits Over the Course of Correctional Treatment

Is Psychopathy a Dynamic Risk Factor? An Empirical Investigation of Changes in Psychopathic Personality Traits Over the Course of Correctional Treatment

Antisocial personality traits relationship with behaviours and beliefs on COVID-19 containment measures: Investigation in a large Brazilian sample.

In the COVID-19 context, traits associated with antisociality can decrease concern and awareness about the potential harmfulness of the virus. This study investigated associations of pathological traits of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) with behaviours and beliefs linked to COVID-19 containment measures. The sample consisted of 2230 Brazilian adults who answered ASPD-related facets of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 and a questionnaire regarding adherence to COVID-19 containment measures. We applied the DSM-5 ASPD criteria to divide the sample into antisocial and non-antisocial groups. Our findings suggest that individuals meeting the criteria for ASPD tend to exhibit reduced compliance with pandemic control measures and lower adherence to hygiene practices. Moreover, sex, income, and age should be considered potential covariates in research investigating the relationship between antisocial traits and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Altogether, our findings highlight ASPD traits' role in the predisposition to lack of prosocial behaviours of adherence to COVID-19 containment measures.

Observing psychopathy promptly, reliably, and validly: Development and validation of the Short Psychopathy Rating Scale (SPRS)

The goal of the present research was to develop a short, valid, and reliable rating measure of psychopathy: the Short Psychopathy Rating Scale (SPRS). To achieve this, we conducted three studies. In Study 1 (N = 485), the participants from a community sample rated persons they know well on items that assess psychopathy. By conducting the Factor Analysis, we selected the items that depict three psychopathy characteristics: Deceitfulness, Emotional coldness, and Recklessness. In Study 2, the raters provided estimates of these three psychopathy measures on the target individuals (N = 429). Furthermore, we collected self-report measures from the target persons, which were used to establish the validity of the new psychopathy scales: Psychopathic Personality Traits Scale (PPTS), short version of the Triarchic Personality Measure (TriPM), impulsiveness, physical aggression, Positive self-view, short-term mating, moral disgust, and substance use. Expected latent structure was obtained from this data as well; furthermore, psychopathy scales had high reliabilities. Finally, the correlations with self-report measures provided evidence for convergent and divergent validity of SPRS scales. In study 3 we obtained positive associations between SPRS scales, aggression, and risk assessment regarding criminal behavior in a sample of prisoners (N = 290) thus confirming the validity of the scales in a forensic context. In sum, the results of the present research showed evidence that SPRS is a valid and reliable measure of psychopathy which can be easily administered and informants can be both professionals and laymen as well; hence, it is an important addition to the psychopathy assessment, both in research and practical contexts.

Childhood Polyvictimization and Psychopathic Personality Traits in Emerging Adults

Childhood Polyvictimization and Psychopathic Personality Traits in Emerging Adults

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED PARENTAL COMPETENCE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTAL PSYCHOPATHIC TRAITS AND PARENTING BEHAVIORS

The importance of parenting in shaping child development has been widely supported, with many researchers considering parenting to be one of the factors most predictive of child outcomes. Despite the importance of parenting behaviors, not enough is known about their antecedents. In this study, we examine the extent to which psychopathic personality traits relate to parenting behaviors by determining which aspects of parental competence mediate these associations in a community sample. Our analyses support the mediating role of one aspect of parental competence — parental satisfaction — in the relationship between several domains of psychopathic personality traits and parenting behaviors. The results suggest that the relationship between parental personality traits and parenting behaviors is nuanced and involves underlying mechanisms related to parental competence.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsivity during adolescence in relation to psychopathic personality traits later in life

Psychopathic personality traits have been linked to low physiological arousal, particularly among high risk and forensic samples. A core indicator of physiological arousal is the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; however, findings of a link between HPA axis functioning and psychopathic personality traits have been inconsistent. Furthermore, given sex differences in both HPA axis responsivity and psychopathic personality traits, the association may be expected to differ between men and women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HPA axis responsivity in mid-adolescence and psychopathic personality traits in early adulthood and determine whether the association was moderated by sex. We examined this link in a general population sample of twins (N = 556). Adolescents participated in a psychosocial stress task during which samples of salivary cortisol were collected (11–15 years) and reported psychopathic personality traits using the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (19–20 years). Multilevel linear regression models were estimated in which psychopathic personality traits (boldness, meanness and disinhibition), and their interactions with sex, were regressed on HPA axis responsivity. The study was pre-registered on the Open Science Framework (osf.io/gs2a8). Preliminary analyses showed that cortisol levels did not increase significantly during the stressor task but decreased during recovery. Results showed that there was no association between HPA axis responsivity in mid-adolescence and psychopathic personality traits in early adulthood. The associations were not moderated by sex. Findings suggest that HPA axis responsivity in mid-adolescence did not serve as a biological marker for psychopathic personality traits among young adults from the general population.

Psychopathic Personality as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Atypical Sexuality and Sexual Coercion Proclivity in the General Population.

Being sexually coerced can have long-lasting psychological impacts on victims; with perpetration strongly predicted by elevated psychopathic traits. Owing to recent legislative developments in the United Kingdom that criminalize coercive control under the Domestic Abuse Act (2021), this study offers a timely investigation into the mechanisms of sexual coercion in domestic abuse across sexual abuse and coercive control. We used moderation analysis (n = 405) to investigate whether sexual coercion proclivity was predicted by facets of atypical sexuality (non-clinical elevated levels of sex drive, sexual sadism, and sexual masochism), and whether this relationship was moderated by psychopathic personality traits specifically the factor one components, which encompasses interpersonal and affective characteristics. Psychopathic personality traits significantly moderated the positive association between sex drive and sexual coercion proclivity, and between sexual sadism and sexual coercion proclivity in males (but not females), but psychopathic personality traits had no such moderating effect in the sexual masochism model. Results are discussed in terms of identifying risk factors of sexual coercion within a general population sample and international application. Open data and a preprint of this paper are available at [https://osf.io/xkcah/?view_only=134ff9c93ad24ba286515b348ce79c0c].

Cool under fire: Psychopathic personality traits and decision making in law-enforcement-oriented populations.

Compared with other jobs, the law enforcement profession is a high-stakes occupation that has the potential to greatly impact public safety, and officers must face daily dangers not experienced in other professions. Previous research indicates that many law enforcement officers exhibit varying degrees of psychopathic traits, which suggests that it may be useful to examine police officer performance, specifically proxies of excessive use of force, through the lens of the triarchic psychopathy domains. We predicted that high boldness and high meanness would be associated with greater justification of excessive use of force, whereas low boldness, high meanness, and high disinhibition would relate to greater errors in high-stakes decision making ("trigger bias"). We employed criterion profile analysis to elucidate optimal profile configurations in both law enforcement and undergraduate samples in relation to justification of use-of-force scenarios and decision making in high-pressure situations (i.e., police officer's dilemma shooter task). In general, combinations of triarchic psychopathy traits accounted for similar variance in performance criteria as individual psychopathy trait domains. In particular, trait elevations in meanness were associated with ratings of unjustified-use-of-force vignettes, and disinhibition was associated with commission errors on the shooter task (although effect sizes were small for the latter). The findings of this study support the conceptual validity of the separate dimensions of the triarchic psychopathy model and substantiate the moderate utility of personality indicators (e.g., antagonism, difficulties with impulse control) in relation to career-related performance in law enforcement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

ENVIRONMENTS OF IMMEDIATE STRATEGIES, LACK OF CONFIDENCE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH DARK TRIAD PERSONALITY TRAITS

This narrative review deals with the correlation between personal, professional, and institutional lack of confidence, based on the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study. This correlation is associated with hostile environments that require immediate strategies, studied in the life course theory. The main replicating agents of these effects are based on social relationships involving individuals or groups exhibiting narcissistic, Machiavellian, and psychopathic personality traits, described in numerous scientific articles as Dark Triad personality traits. Such a condition indicates the uncertainty that the laws and justice will be fulfilled equally for all if there is any attempt of deceit or non-compliance with regulations. Under these circumstances, development is compromised, opportunities become scarce, education, health, housing, security, and the entire personal and professional environment becomes unstable, insecure, and unfair. The permanent effects of a continuum of immediate responses result in the absence of punishment and lessening actions of reprimand for justice, turning this environment fertile for individuals with dishonest, selfish, manipulative, and low empathy personalities, forming a cycle of permanent cause and effect.

The impact of empathy priming on the Rape Myth Acceptance Scale for those with antisocial/psychopathic traits

ABSTRACT Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA) remains a persistent problem in rape and sexual assault cases. Several scholars (e.g. Mouilso, E. R., & Calhoun, K. S. (2013). The role of rape myth acceptance and psychopathy in sexual assault perpetration. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 22(2), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2013.743937) discussed RMA as a cognitive distortion that constitutes a crucial link between psychopathy and rape perpetration. Research has indicated that empathy can help counteract bias and promote understanding and support for individuals who have experienced sexual violence (Batson, C. D., Polycarpou, M. P., Harmon-Jones, E., Imhoff, H. J., Mitchener, E. C., Bednar, L. L., Klein, T. R., & Highberger, L. (1997). Empathy and attitudes: Can feeling for a member of a stigmatized group improve feelings toward the group? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(1), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.72.1.105). The overall goal of this study was to experimentally assess the relationship between empathy priming, psychopathy, and RMA. Specifically, it aimed to examine whether psychopathic traits influence the relationship between empathy priming and RMA. The study included 518 participants from Ontario Tech University and the community. Results indicated that the amount of effort invested in the empathy priming task significantly reduced rape-supportive attitudes, but only when the participants had high levels of psychopathic personality traits. Limitations of the study and potential directions for future research are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The present research offers a unique perspective in understanding the efficiency of empathy priming on rape-supportive attitudes in individuals with high- and low-trait psychopathy. Additionally, it highlights the significance of active involvement and engagement in empathy-based sexual assault prevention programmes, particularly when targeting individuals with high psychopathic traits.

A neurocognitive model of early onset persistent and desistant antisocial behavior in early adulthood.

It remains unclear which functional and neurobiological mechanisms are associated with persistent and desistant antisocial behavior in early adulthood. We reviewed the empirical literature and propose a neurocognitive social information processing model for early onset persistent and desistant antisocial behavior in early adulthood, focusing on how young adults evaluate, act upon, monitor, and learn about their goals and self traits. Based on the reviewed literature, we propose that persistent antisocial behavior is characterized by domain-general impairments in self-relevant and goal-related information processing, regulation, and learning, which is accompanied by altered activity in fronto-limbic brain areas. We propose that desistant antisocial development is associated with more effortful information processing, regulation and learning, that possibly balances self-relevant goals and specific situational characteristics. The proposed framework advances insights by considering individual differences such as psychopathic personality traits, and specific emotional characteristics (e.g., valence of social cues), to further illuminate functional and neural mechanisms underlying heterogenous developmental pathways. Finally, we address important open questions and offer suggestions for future research to improve scientific knowledge on general and context-specific expression and development of antisocial behavior in early adulthood.

The Mediating Role of Dark Triad Personality Traits in the Relationship Between Childhood Traumas and Obsessive Beliefs

This study aims to investigate the relationship between childhood traumas, dark triad personality traits, and obsessive beliefs. Personal Information Form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Short Dark Triad Scale, and Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire were used to collect data in the study. A total of 480 volunteers, of which 306 were female and 174 were male, participated in the study. Pearson Correlation Analysis, independent samples t-test, and Parallel Multiple Mediator Variable analysis were used for the analysis of the obtained data. The correlation analysis results showed that childhood traumas were significantly and positively associated with both dark triad personality traits and obsessive beliefs. Male participants' psychopathic personality traits mean scores were found to be significantly higher than those of females. Mediation analysis results show that the psychopathic personality traits had a mediating effect on the relationship between the physical and emotional neglect and abuse sub-dimensions of childhood traumas and obsessive beliefs. The findings were discussed vis-à-vis the available relevant literature and suggestions were presented.