An empirical investigation of psychopathy in a noninstitutionalized and noncriminal sample

Behav Sci Law. 2006;24(2):133-46. doi: 10.1002/bsl.667.

Abstract

This study examined the construct of psychopathy using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in 54 participants from the general population. To obtain a sample of community participants with psychopathic characteristics, participants were recruited using advertisements for a "personality study" that incorporated the characteristics of psychopathy in a nonpejorative manner. The methodology successfully recruited community participants with moderately elevated PCL-R scores. Participants exhibited the personality features of psychopathy (Factor 1) to a greater extent than the behavioral features (Factor 2), which is consistent with the results obtained with the PCL-R normative samples. Roughly 40% of the sample reported no history of involvement with the criminal justice system, yet these participants exhibited moderately elevated PCL-R scores. Moreover, a sizeable portion of the noncriminal participants reported a substantial history of violent behavior. Comparisons of PCL-R scores between participants with and without a criminal history suggest that these two groups differ in ways unrelated to criminal justice system involvement.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology*
  • Crime / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Philadelphia
  • Prisoners / psychology
  • Psychological Tests