Distinct variants of extreme psychopathic individuals in society at large: Evidence from a population-based sample.

Abstract

This study used model-based cluster analysis to identify subtypes of men who scored high in overall psychopathy (i.e., ≥ 95th percentile on the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure; n = 193) from a larger sample evaluated for service in the Finnish military (N= 4043). Cluster variates consisted of scores on distinct facets of psychopathy together with a measure of negative affectivity. The best-fitting model specified two clusters, representing ‘primary’ (n = 110) and ‘secondary’ psychopathy (n = 83) groups. Compared to a low-psychopathy comparison group (n = 1878), both psychopathy subgroups showed markedly elevated levels of externalizing symptoms and criminal behavior. Secondary psychopathic participants also reported high levels of internalizing problems including anxiousness, depression, and somatization, and scored higher on the disinhibition facet of psychopathy relative to the primary group. By contrast, primary psychopathic individuals reported fewer internalizing problems than either the secondary psychopathy or comparison groups and scored higher on the boldness facet of psychopathy. Primary psychopathic participants also had higher rates of violent crimes than the secondary psychopaths. Implications for conceptualizing and studying psychopathy in non-forensic populations are discussed.

Empathic, moral and antisocial outcomes associated with distinct components of psychopathy in healthy individuals: a Triarchic model approach

“…In addition, an increasing number of studies support the role of boldness in antisocial tendencies (Drislane et al, 2014;Venables, Hall, & Patrick, 2014;Wall, Wygant, & Sellbom, 2014). Together with these findings, our results lend support to the relevance of boldness in psychopathy's nomological network.…”

“…While these results suggest that all three facets are associated with higher rates of criminal behavior, this study did not report the unique associations between facets and self-reported delinquency, which we have done in the present study. In line with Drislane et al (2014), we expected higher scores in all components to be positively associated with self-reported delinquency.…”

“…Although PCL scores are good predictors of antisocial outcomes, such as recidivism (Yang, Wong, & Coid, 2010) or violence (Kennealy, Skeem, Walters, & Camp, 2010), these associations seem to be restricted to characteristics of psychopathy assessed by the antisocial and impulsive facets of the PCL (Kennealy et al, 2010;Yang et al, 2010). However, in a study using the TriPM in a non-forensic sample, Drislane et al (2014) have shown that high levels of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition were associated with increased frequency of arrest. While these results suggest that all three facets are associated with higher rates of criminal behavior, this study did not report the unique associations between facets and self-reported delinquency, which we have done in the present study.…”

Person-centered approaches in the study of personality disorders.

“…To illustrate, both the primary and secondary psychopathy subtypes exhibit a more severe pattern of antisocial behavior relative to low psychopathic control groups (Drislane et al, 2014; Hicks, et al, 2010; Swogger & Kosson, 2007; Swogger et al, 2008; Vassileva et al, 2005). In terms of personality, Hicks and Drislane (in press) conducted meta-analytic comparisons with control groups, and found that the secondary subtype scored higher on anger/aggression ( d = 1.37), neuroticism ( d = 0.72), and disinhibition ( d = 0.49), and lower on extraversion ( d = −0.30).…”

Psychopathy, criminal intentions, and abnormal appraisal of the expected outcomes of theft

“…The TriPM has been shown to display good construct validity and to successfully capture the nuclear psychopathic traits (Sellbom & Phillips, ; Stanley, Wygant, & Sellbom, ). We have chosen the TriPM in detriment of other instruments for a variety of reasons: In addition to its strong psychometric properties, including convergence with the PPI‐R and the PCL‐R (Drislane et al ., ; Patrick, ; Sellbom & Phillips, ; Stanley et al ., ), it is a short self‐report instrument, which allows its expedite administration along with other instruments. Moreover, the instrument is conceptually based in the dual‐process framework of psychopathy, which has been extensively supported by empirical data (for a review, see Fowles & Dindo, ).…”