Psychopathy and prejudice: The mediating role of empathy, social dominance orientation and right‐wing authoritarianism

Abstract

A current shift in intergroup relations research aims to delve deeper into whether, and how, individual differences predict social attitudes. Recent research goes beyond the measurement of typical personality traits and focuses also on the subclinical area of malicious traits. The present studies aimed at exploring the role of one such trait, psychopathy, as a predictor of negative social attitudes. The role of empathy was examined as a key underlying process explaining the relationship between primary and secondary psychopathy and social attitudes. Study 1 (N = 171) and Study 2 (N = 332) demonstrated that when entered as simultaneous predictors of negative attitudes toward immigrants (Study 1) and racism (Study 2), only primary psychopathy emerged as a significant predictor. Study 1 further demonstrated that lower levels of empathy mediated the psychopathy-attitudes path. Study 2 decomposed empathy into cognitive and affective, and tested the explanatory role of social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA). Primary psychopathy predicted lower cognitive and affective empathy, which sequentially predicted racism via SDO (in the case of cognitive empathy) and RWA (in the case of affective empathy). The results are discussed in the context of an integration between the personality and intergroup relations literature. | 531 STATHI eT Al.the first time, the mediating role of empathy (Studies 1 and 2) and social ideology variables, specifically SDO and RWA (Study 2). | Individual differences and prejudiceResearch investigating the relationship between individual differences and prejudice now integrates personality and social psychological approaches (see Hodson et al., 2017) and seeks to understand further if, and why, some individuals are more prejudiced than others by exploring personality traits that have been overlooked in the past.

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“…Empathy is important for developing meaningful relationships and participating in community to engage in anti‐racist work (Boele et al., 2019). Lower empathy has been linked to racial colorblindness (Mekawi et al., 2017), as well as negative attitudes toward immigrants, increased racism, and right‐wing authoritarianism (Stathi et al., 2021). On the contrary, the development of perspective‐taking skills and empathetic concern is a key component of anti‐racist identity development in children (Thomann & Suyemoto, 2018) and higher levels of openness to diversity (i.e., participating in diverse cultural activities, appreciating diversity in personal growth, comfort with diverse individuals) among young adults (Chao et al., 2015).…”

An Employee-Supervisor Analysis of Counterproductive Workplace Behaviours as an Outcome of Social Rank

“…Further, individuals high in SDO are concerned with maintaining power as well as pursuing their self-interests (Shao et al, 2011). Interestingly, previous research has found social dominance to be associated with numerous negative interpersonal factors, such as a lack of empathy for others (Stathi et al, 2021), prejudice towards immigrants and ethnic minorities (Sidanius et al, 2013), and endorsement of social inequality (Kteily et al, 2011) and sexism (Kteily et al, 2012). Given that individuals high in SDO believe in their dominance and authority, they are also more likely to distance themselves from others whom they perceive to be of lower status (Khan et al, 2016).…”