Psychopathy and the Assessment of Violence in Women

ABSTRACT

Although considerable research exists on the relationship between psychopathy and violence in males, there is limited research on these constructs and their relationship in females. Research has found gender differences in prevalence rates and expression of traits for both constructs. However, recent studies using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) with women have raised questions regarding the origin of these gender differences. Researchers have suggested that different manifestations of behaviors in males and females, errors or biases in assessment, or simply lower prevalence rates among women may account for gender differences. Importantly, gender differences may impact the assessment of psychopathy and predictions of aggression in females, and applying research on males to evaluating females may lead to confusion. A case report is presented to illustrate these difficulties. Given the current state of the literature, use of the PCL-R in violence risk assessment with women should be approached with caution.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychopathy
• violence and aggression
• risk assessment
• gender differences
• women

Notes

1. More recent research indicates that other factor models may better fit the data (Cooke & Michie, 2001; Hare, 2003). Research exploring these models is underway; however, the majority of past research has utilized the two-factor conceptualization.

2. Identifying information has been changed to protect confidentiality.