Differential Mapping of Psychopathic Traits and General Psychopathology in a Large Young Adult Sample

Abstract

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by affective-interpersonal features and an impulsive-antisocial lifestyle. Psychopathy commonly co-occurs with other forms of psychopathology, but current understanding of how behavioral features of psychopathy co-occur with, or are distinct from, other mental health problems is limited. In this study, we analysed data from a large sample of young adults to study the relationship between different facets of psychopathic traits and general psychopathology (“p”). Data were collected between 2010 and 2016 and included 1,324 U.S. undergraduate students (Mage = 19.7 years; 57% female). Linear regression models revealed that the antisocial facet of psychopathy was distinct from p, while the lifestyle facet was correlated with p and externalizing behavior. Interpersonal and affective facets were correlated with internalizing behaviors. Collectively, these findings suggest that psychopathic traits of severe, premeditated antisocial behavior are distinct from general psychopathology, whereas impulsive and uninhibited lifestyle traits are a shared feature of psychopathology.