an examination of the factor structure of the psychopathy checklist
an examination of the factor structure of the psychopathy checklist an examination of the factor structure of the psychopathy checklist
Woodworth, 2007; Walsh & Kosson, 2007) that Hart (1998) asserted “a full understanding of violence is impossible without consideration of the role played by psychopathy” (p. 367). Numerous studies have been devoted to understanding adult psychopathy and findings among adult offenders have led researchers to investigate psychopathy among younger populations. The emerging adolescent literature does suggest support for the existence of similar psychopathy correlates as seen in adult samples (Campbell, Porter, & Santor, 2004; Flight & Forth, 2007; Frick, Cornell, Barry, Bodin, & Dane, 2003; Fritz, Wiklund, Koposov, Klinteberg, & Ruchkin, 2008; Lindberg et al., 2009; Murrie, Cornell, Kaplan, McConville, & Levy-Elkon, 2004; Vitacco, Caldwell, VanRybroek, & Gabel, 2007). For example, psychopathy scores have been shown to be associated with violent behaviour among adolescents (Campbell et al., 2004; Flight & Forth, 2007; Murrie et al., 2004). Indeed, youth with more psychopathic traits are generally more violent (Frick et al., 2003; Fritz et al., 2008), they are more likely to use excessive violence in the commission of their crimes (Lindberg et al., 2009), and their victims sustain greater injury (Vitacco et al., 2007) than youth who possess fewer psychopathic traits. Studying psychopathy in youth is important for several reasons. First, the study of psychopathy during childhood or adolescence may reveal important insights into the etiology of this disorder (Blair, Peschardt, Budhani, Mitchell, & Pine, 2006; Forth & Burke, 1998; Lynam, 1996; Lynam & Gudonis, 2005; Vitale & Newman, 2001). Second, given the recalcitrant nature of psychopathy in adulthood, some have suggested that intervention and treatment efforts might yield more success if implemented at an earlier age (Forth & Mailloux, 2000; Frick, Barry, & Bodin, 2000; Roberts & DelVecchio, 2000). 3
Third, it has been suggested that the assessment of psychopathy during adolescence is a useful tool for risk assessment and case management of juvenile offenders (Campbell et al., 2004; Corrado, Vincent, Hart, & Cohen, 2004). There is also mounting evidence supporting adolescent psychopathy as a reliable and valid construct (e.g., Forsman, Lichtenstein, Andershed, & Larsson, 2008; Forth, Hart, & Hare, 1990; Kotler & McMahon, 2010; Lynam, 1998; Lynam, Caspi, & Moffitt, 2007; Lynam et al., 2009; Salekin, Rosenbaum, & Lee, 2008). For example, Forsman and colleagues found that psychopathy was a stable, reliable trait from mid to late adolescence. Specifically, total psychopathy scores did not change for the vast majority of males (76.6%-88.8%) and females (86.9%-91.0%) between 16 and 19 years of age. Similarly, Lynam and colleagues (2007) found psychopathic traits to be stable from early adolescence to young adulthood, even after controlling for 13 important age-related variables (e.g., socioeconomic status, parenting, peer delinquency). The interested reader is referred to Frick and White (2008) for a review of the literature supporting the stability of this construct across youth into adulthood. Despite these rationales for studying adolescent psychopathy, contrary arguments exist in applying this construct in children and adolescents (Edens, Skeem, Cruise, & Cauffman, 2001; Seagrave & Grisso, 2002; Sharp & Kine, 2008). Concerns revolve around several key issues, including the malleability of personality during childhood and adolescence (cf. Roberts & DelVecchio, 2000); difficulty finding appropriate sources of collateral information (e.g., official records, credible informants); and the reliability and validity of juvenile psychopathy measures across raters, time, psychopathology constructs, and ethnicity (cf. Edens & Vincent, 2008; Seagrave & Grisso, 2002; 4
- Page 1 and 2: AN EXAMINATION OF THE FACTOR STRUCT
- Page 3 and 4: Preface Ethics approval for this re
- Page 5 and 6: 3 Results .........................
- Page 7 and 8: List of Tables Table 1 Confirmatory
- Page 9 and 10: Acknowledgements I owe my deepest g
- Page 11 and 12: To my family and friends, Thank you
- Page 13: among female youth populations, the
- Page 17 and 18: only a small proportion of conduct-
- Page 19 and 20: irresponsible, and antisocial tende
- Page 21 and 22: A long line of research has demonst
- Page 23 and 24: females. When a model is considered
- Page 25 and 26: to do with whether the measure is w
- Page 27 and 28: Understanding the factor structure
- Page 29 and 30: (Leschied et al., 2001; Moretti, Ca
- Page 31 and 32: psychopathic offenders were signifi
- Page 33 and 34: instrumental aggression. However, w
- Page 35 and 36: Given the relationships between the
- Page 37 and 38: associated with self-report will be
- Page 39 and 40: 1.4.1 Hypotheses The current thesis
- Page 41 and 42: ecords, school records, medical rec
- Page 43 and 44: 2.2.3 Instrumental-Reactive Coding
- Page 45 and 46: eceiving services from YFPS. Althou
- Page 47 and 48: 3 Results 3.1 Coding Reliability In
- Page 49 and 50: This was followed by acquaintance v
- Page 51 and 52: Figure 2. Percentage of cases by se
- Page 53 and 54: index that adjusts for model comple
- Page 55 and 56: Item 1 Item 2 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6
- Page 57 and 58: (1-19), 38.7% scored in the moderat
- Page 59 and 60: offences, 28.6% were for revenge or
- Page 61 and 62: association between the dichotomous
- Page 63 and 64: from the original dataset. In other
Woodworth, 2007; Walsh & Kosson, 2007) that Hart (1998) asserted “a full<br />
underst<strong>an</strong>ding <strong>of</strong> violence is impossible without consideration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> role played by<br />
<strong>psychopathy</strong>” (p. 367).<br />
Numerous studies have been devoted to underst<strong>an</strong>ding adult <strong>psychopathy</strong> <strong>an</strong>d<br />
findings among adult <strong>of</strong>fenders have led researchers to investigate <strong>psychopathy</strong> among<br />
younger populations. The emerging adolescent literature does suggest support for <strong>the</strong><br />
existence <strong>of</strong> similar <strong>psychopathy</strong> correlates as seen in adult samples (Campbell, Porter,<br />
& S<strong>an</strong>tor, 2004; Flight & Forth, 2007; Frick, Cornell, Barry, Bodin, & D<strong>an</strong>e, 2003; Fritz,<br />
Wiklund, Koposov, Klinteberg, & Ruchkin, 2008; Lindberg et al., 2009; Murrie, Cornell,<br />
Kapl<strong>an</strong>, McConville, & Levy-Elkon, 2004; Vitacco, Caldwell, V<strong>an</strong>Rybroek, & Gabel,<br />
2007). For example, <strong>psychopathy</strong> scores have been shown to be associated with violent<br />
behaviour among adolescents (Campbell et al., 2004; Flight & Forth, 2007; Murrie et al.,<br />
2004). Indeed, youth with more psychopathic traits are generally more violent (Frick et<br />
al., 2003; Fritz et al., 2008), <strong>the</strong>y are more likely to use excessive violence in <strong>the</strong><br />
commission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir crimes (Lindberg et al., 2009), <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong>ir victims sustain greater<br />
injury (Vitacco et al., 2007) th<strong>an</strong> youth who possess fewer psychopathic traits.<br />
Studying <strong>psychopathy</strong> in youth is import<strong>an</strong>t for several reasons. First, <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>psychopathy</strong> during childhood or adolescence may reveal import<strong>an</strong>t insights into <strong>the</strong><br />
etiology <strong>of</strong> this disorder (Blair, Peschardt, Budh<strong>an</strong>i, Mitchell, & Pine, 2006; Forth &<br />
Burke, 1998; Lynam, 1996; Lynam & Gudonis, 2005; Vitale & Newm<strong>an</strong>, 2001). Second,<br />
given <strong>the</strong> recalcitr<strong>an</strong>t nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>psychopathy</strong> in adulthood, some have suggested that<br />
intervention <strong>an</strong>d treatment efforts might yield more success if implemented at <strong>an</strong> earlier<br />
age (Forth & Mailloux, 2000; Frick, Barry, & Bodin, 2000; Roberts & DelVecchio, 2000).<br />
3
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