an examination of the factor structure of the psychopathy checklist

The presence of psychopathic traits have been shown to be related to instrumental
aggression in adolescents (Agar, 2009; Cook et al., 2010; Flight & Forth, 2007; Murrie
et al., 2004; Vitacco et al., 2006). Based on this existing literature, I hypothesized that
youths with high levels of psychopathic traits would use more instrumental aggression
than youths with low levels of psychopathic traits. Results revealed, however, that
female youths with high levels of psychopathic traits did not use significantly more
instrumental violence than youths with low levels of psychopathic traits. This finding was
consistent with Carpenter (2010) who utilized a generally violent sample, but was not
consistent with the research on homicide offenders. Specifically, Agar (2009), in her
sample of youth homicide offenders, found that offenders who were high in
psychopathic traits were more likely to use instrumental violence. Similarly, Woodworth
and Porter (2002) found that psychopathic adult homicide offenders used significantly
more instrumental violence than their nonpsychopathic counterparts. One potential
explanation for the disparity between psychopaths and nonpsychopaths speculated by
Woodworth and Porter (2002) involves examination of the seriousness of the offence
that was committed. Specifically, these researchers hypothesized that for offences that
may have more severe repercussions, psychopaths may behave in a more instrumental
manner, or, rather, may behave in a less reactive and impulsive manner than
nonpsychopaths. This hypothesis, referred to as the selective impulsivity hypothesis,
suggests that when crimes are more serious, both in terms severity and legal
consequences, psychopaths may invest more attention to the planning and perpetration
of the offence so as to reduce their likelihood of being apprehended. Since psychopaths
are likely deterred by the legal consequences rather than out of concern for the others,
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