Concurrent and developmental correlates of psychopathic traits using a triarchic psychopathy model approach.

Abstract

Psychopathy refers to a heterogeneous set of harmful dark traits and behaviors, including superficial charm, callousness, irresponsibility, and antisocial behavior. The triarchic psychopathy model (TriPM) posits that psychopathy is the combination of three traits: boldness, disinhibition, and meanness. However, little research has examined the concurrent and developmental correlates of these traits. We developed TriPM scales from the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised using an empirical-derived approach in a high-risk sample of 561 young adults (ages 17–25; 70.2% male). Concurrent correlates and developmental precursors of each scale were examined longitudinally using cross-informant reports from three critical developmental periods (ages 3–5; 9–11; 15–17). Using this approach, we identified consistent developmental precursors and concurrent correlates of boldness, including lower reactive control, fewer internalizing traits, and greater resiliency. Additionally, starting in adolescence we found that disinhibition was related to lower reactive control, more externalizing problems, substance use, and internalizing traits. Finally, although meanness demonstrated some expected concurrent relationships with criterion variables in early adulthood (e.g., lower adaptive functioning), we identified few consistent developmental precursors of meanness. Thus, a NEO-based approach to measuring the TriPM was successful in delineating boldness, disinhibition, and, to a lesser extent, meanness cross-sectionally during early adulthood. However, only boldness showed relative stability from developmental precursors in early childhood to our TriPM scale in early adulthood.

As cold as a fish? Relationships between the Dark Triad personality traits and affective experience during the day: A day reconstruction study

“…Positive emotional states communicate that an individual is safe, healthy, full of energy, so he or she is able to take more risks and make good use of to gain valuable resources. This finding is consistent with earlier studies that demonstrated similar relationships between boldness and a trait positive/negative affect, resiliency [92,89], and well-being [90]. Although boldness is also considered to be connected with diminished physiological and emotional responsiveness [91], our study did not confirm this in relation to positive affective states.…”

“…However, we postulate that vulnerable narcissism will be positively related to momentary NA and negatively related to momentary PA (Hypothesis 3). Finally, taking into account the fact that meanness and disinhibition are related to primary and secondary psychopathy [75], and boldness is related to grandiose narcissism [73,89], and considering the results of recent research on triarchic psychopathy dimensions [90][91][92], we hypothesize that: boldness will be positively related to momentary PA and negatively related to momentary NA (Hypothesis 4); disinhibition will be negatively related to momentary PA and positively related to momentary NA (Hypothesis 5), and meanness will be negatively related to momentary NA (Hypothesis 6).…”

The dark personality and psychopathology: Toward a brighter future.

“…We should complement cross-sectional methods with prospective longitudinal and experimental methods (e.g., randomized controlled trials) to better understand the potential causes and consequences of dark traits. One example of such a prospective longitudinal approach can be found in Dotterer et al (2017). They followed youth from early childhood up to early adulthood, and identified developmental antecedents of three components of psychopathy-boldness, disinhibition, and meanness (Patrick, Fowles, & Krueger, 2009)-in key developmental stages (i.e., preschool age, preadolescence, and mid-adolescence).…”

Psychopathic features across development: Assessing longitudinal invariance among Caucasian and African American youths

“…In particular, while some researchers suggest that antisocial behaviors are an integral component of psychopathy (Hare & Neumann, 2010), others have expressed concerns that these behaviors represent a sequelae, rather than core component of the syndrome (Skeem & Cooke, 2010a). In addition, some research suggests that personality based conceptualizations may provide greater insight into psychopathy's developmental precursors, noting that some behavioral manifestations are less likely to emerge during earlier periods of development (Dotterer et al, 2017;Frick, Ray, Thornton, & Kahn, 2014) (for a more thorough tx of these issues, see Lilienfeld, Watts, Francis Smith, Berg, & Latzman, 2014).…”

“…Considerable research shows that it is this overarching factor that confers the greatest risks, as youth with the highest overall psychopathy scores tend exhibit the most severe and violent forms of delinquent behavior (Lynam, Miller, Vachon, Loeber, & Stouthamer-Loeber, 2009), the worst treatment outcomes (Spain, Douglas, Poythress, & Epstein, 2004), and are at increased risk for displaying psychopathic personality features into adulthood . Recently, several studies have provided evidence indicating that bifactor models, which posit that items on a measure are simultaneously influenced by general (e.g., psychopathy) and specific factors (e.g., callousness, impulsivity), can be useful for integrating distinct features of psychopathy into a basic structural model (e.g., Dotterer et al, 2017;Hawes, Mulvey, Schubert, & Pardini, 2014;Patrick, Hicks, Nichol, & Krueger, 2007;Waller, McCabe, Dotterer, Neumann, & Hyde, 2017). In particular, this approach can help to reconcile findings that show dimensions of psychopathy to be strongly influenced by genetic factors, while also exhibiting unique associations with theoretically meaningful constructs, such as negative emotionality (Bezdjian, Raine, Baker, & Lynam, 2011;Forsman, Lichtenstein, Andershed, & Larsson, 2008).…”