Exploring Psychopathy Predictors in Males and Females

Authors

Teresa M. Encalada, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

International Crime and Justice

First Advisor's Name

Dr. Jamie Flexon

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Dr. Rob Guerette

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Dr. Robert Peacock

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Dr. Deborah Goldfarb

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee memeber

Keywords

psychopathy, gender differences, developmental antecedents, stability, youth, psychopathic dimensions

Date of Defense

7-1-2022

Abstract

Psychopathy is a clinical term used to describe a personality disorder. This personality disorder presents as callousness, lack of empathy, feelings of grandiosity, impulsivity, narcissism, and a lack of guilt or remorse (Cleckley, 1951). It is noteworthy that by some estimates, those meeting the criteria of psychopathy commit 20 – 40% of violent crimes (Drislane et al., 2019) and makeup between 15% and 25% of the prison population (Kiehl & Hoffman, 2011). As such, psychopathy is one of the most significant criminal justice constructs of the present day because of the heightened and persistent levels of aggression, criminality, and financial damage implemented by psychopathic individuals (DeLisi & Piquero, 2011).

Though the topic has seen an increase in research, and some have lauded psychopathy as the unified theory of crime (DeLisi, 2009), the field has seen a paucity of research concerning the disorder in female youth and gender differences in all aspects. Due to the severity and prevalence of criminal behavior exhibited by those meeting some criteria of psychopathy, additional research is needed into antecedents and the role gender plays in psychopathic development in youth toward tailoring prevention (Nicholls & Petrila, 2005). Thus, data from the Pathway to Desistance study (PTD) is analyzed to address this gap in knowledge. The current research uses PTD data to focus on youth aged 14 to 20 and concentrates on three research questions, targeting developmental antecedents, the role gender plays in psychopathic development, and psychopathic dimensions in males and females. Several theories are explored to explain the development of psychopathic traits in the sample and the differences between the genders. These theories include attachment theory, gender schema, and socialization theories.

Study results suggest that race, gender, presence of caring adults, motivation to succeed and baseline psychopathy scores affect later psychopathic development in males and females. Findings also reveal males and females are affected by different developmental antecedents, and different relationships occur based on gender. Additionally, gender appears to have a modifying effect on the relation between one protective factor and psychopathy development. Lastly, males reported on average higher total psychopathy scores and higher scores in the callus-unemotional, grandioise-manipultive and impulsive-irresponsible dimension. When it comes to psychopathy stability, the findings reveal there is an overall decrease, on average, in final psychopathy scores, as well as in each of the psychopathic dimensions whether examining males or females.

The results demonstrate that psychopathy is affected by gender, risk factors and protective factors. These findings provide a unique perspective to the analysis of psychopathy, but they also emphasize the need for expansion of research focused on developmental antecedents and the role gender plays in psychopathic development. This research can inform early identification of at-risk youth toward appropriate intervention methods, and, hopefully, successful responses to treatment during early developmental stages when individuals are more malleable to change (Shine & Hobson, 2000).

Identifier

FIDC010898

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7385-0941

Recommended Citation

Encalada, Teresa M., "Exploring Psychopathy Predictors in Males and Females" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5093.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5093