Twigs on the same branch? Identifying personality profiles in police officers using psychopathic personality traits

Identifying Psychopathy Subtypes Using a Broader Model of Personality: An Investigation of the Five Factor Model Using Model-Based Cluster Analysis

“…The possibility of adaptive traits defining primary psychopathy challenges the traditional view of psychopathy. However, as supported by theory and research in nonforensic samples (e.g., Falkenbach, Balash, et al, 2018;Falkenbach, Glackin, & McKinley, 2018;Howe et al, 2014;Lilienfeld et al, 2012), a reframing may be in order. Indeed, there is even counterintuitive evidence that those high in primary psychopathic traits may be better moral decision makers .…”

“…There is ongoing debate as to the ability of the NPI to adequately capture various aspects of narcissism (e.g., Krizan & Herlache, 2017; Pincus & Lukowitsky, 2010), although Ackerman et al (2011) argues it is an adequate measure of overt and covert narcissism. For consistency with previous theory (Skeem et al, 2003) and research (Falkenbach et al, 2013; Falkenbach, Glackin, & McKinley, 2018; Falkenbach et al, 2014), the current study utilized the NPI to assess two types of narcissism using seven factors: Overt narcissism (Authority, Self-Sufficiency, Superiority, Vanity, and Exhibitionism) and Covert narcissism (Exploitativeness and Entitlement; Ackerman et al, 2011). 6 Internal consistency was .82 for overall scores and ranged from .50 to .83 for factor scores.…”

“…Nonforensic samples have low base-rates of psychopathy leading to criticism of early psychopathy subtyping research with such samples (Falkenbach, 2004). Most recent psychopathy subtyping research in nonforensic samples has implemented the suggestion of critics that this research should focus on those with high-psychopathic traits (Falkenbach, Glackin, & McKinley, 2018; Falkenbach et al, 2017; Lee & Salekin, 2010). These studies’ high-scoring participants’ scores ranged from 344.00 to 454.75 ( M = 380.05; Falkenbach et al, 2017).…”

“…Model-based cluster analysis (MBCA) objectively reveals predictable and distinct groupings based on multiple variables (Falkenbach, Beltrani, & Reinhard, 2018;Skeem et al, 2003). Model-based cluster analysis research with forensic (Poythress et al, 2010;Skeem, Johansson, Andershed, Kerr, & Louden, 2007), undergraduate (Falkenbach, Barese, Balash, Reinhard, & Hughs, 2015;Falkenbach, Poythress, & Creevy, 2008;Falkenbach, Reinhard, & Larson, 2017;Falkenbach, Stern, & Creevy, 2014;Lee & Salekin, 2010), and even police (Falkenbach, Glackin, & McKinley, 2018) samples has confirmed the existence of theoretically coherent psychopathy subtypes. Primary psychopathy groups have elevated positive affect and relatively low inhibition and anxiety, whereas secondary psychopathy groups have high BPD traits, hostile and angry aggression, and anxiety.…”

“…In a nonforensic sample, there is predictably a low base rate of psychopathy. In an effort to better capture psychopathy subtypes in nonclinical samples, prior researchers (Drislane et al, 2014; Falkenbach, Glackin, & McKinley, 2018; Falkenbach et al, 2017; Lee & Salekin, 2010) isolated the participants with the highest psychopathy scores. This high scoring group is then compared with the remaining individuals in the sample.…”