Psychopathy, emotionality, and offending

ABSTRACT

The present research sought to examine the interrelations of emotion, crime characteristics, and self-reported psychopathy; and to examine criterion related validity of the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale Short-Form (SRP-SF). One hundred Canadian adult male offenders were interviewed with a series of structured questionnaires examining offense-related distress, shame, and guilt; offense instrumentality-reactivity; psychopathy; and institutional violence. Results revealed a significant negative association between SRP-measured psychopathy and offense-related guilt, but not offense-related shame or distress. Higher psychopathy scores were also associated with greater planning and control of the offense, higher levels of anger during the offense, and engagement in institutional violence. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analyses demonstrated SRP total, affective, and lifestyle facet scores yielded the strongest predictive accuracy for institutional violence followed by the interpersonal and antisocial facets. Results provide support for the predictive accuracy and construct validity of SRP-SF. Findings also reflect the instrumental-reactivity continuum of offenses with potential implications for the treatment and correctional needs of high psychopathy men, both in terms of emotional and interpersonal areas, in addition to the more traditionally targeted criminogenic foci. Researchers and clinician alike are encouraged to further explore this understudied topic.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-Report Psychopathy Scale Short-Form (SRP-SF)
• offense-related guilt
• offense-related shame
• instrumental-reactive crimes
• institutional violence

Acknowledgments

This research was made possible by the financial support of SSHRC Joseph-Bombardier Doctoral Scholarship (767-2012-1457) and the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies’ Graduate Student Research Award; as well as by the support from the Ministry of Corrections and Policing and the helpful staff at the correctional facilities. We would also like to sincerely thank the men who were willing to participate in this research and open themselves up and share their stories.

Disclosure statement

All authors have agreed to authorship in the indicated order and the authors have no financial interest in the research. This manuscript has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere.

Data sharing statement

Data not available due to privacy/ethical/security restrictions.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [767-2012-1457].