Effects of psychopathy traits on unprovoked aggression

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that risk of violent behavior is high in individuals who display psychopathic traits. However, prediction of general aggression, and in particular unprovoked aggression, in nonforensic men who possess such traits has received little experimental attention to date. This study examined the role of psychopathic traits in the prediction of unprovoked aggression in a nonforensic sample. One hundred and five men completed the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scales and competed in a sham aggression paradigm. These men were identified as unprovoked aggressors, provoked aggressors, and provoked nonaggressors contingent on their responses to the experimental paradigm. Findings indicated that men with high levels of psychopathic traits had a 30% greater probability of becoming aggressive in the absence of provocation relative to those with lower psychopathic traits. Results also indicated that unprovoked aggressors evinced more general aggression when provocation was initiated. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of trait-based risk factors in the prediction of seemingly random, unprovoked aggression.

Do the same risk and protective factors influence aggression toward partners and same‐sex others?

“…The general finding that psychopathy is associated with aggression is consistent with many previous studies involving general aggression (e.g., Meloy, 1997;Reidy et al, 2008) and IPV (e.g., Coyne, Nelson, Graham-Kevan, Kesiter & Grant, 2010;Huss & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2000;Grann & Wedin, 2002). However, other studies suggest that the link between psychopathy and aggression is more complex.…”

“…Jolliffe & Farrington, 2004), (5) anxiety (e.g., Taft et al, 2006) and (5) psychopathic traits (e.g., Reidy, Zeichner & Martinez, 2008). From general theories of aggression, we might expect these risk or protective factors to operate in both sexes and for both contexts of aggression.…”

Psychopathy: A Behavioral Systems Approach

“…In an extensive literature, psychopathy, is associated with instrumental, reactive, relational and laboratory aggression [72][73][74][75]. Factor 1 correlates with these more than does Factor 2, except for reactive aggression [74].…”

Red Collar Crime

“…Further, narcissism is linked to revenge, increasing the risk of retaliation (Brown, 2004) by resorting to brutal forms of violence against those they perceive as interfering with their schemes (Reidy, Zeichner, & Martinez, 2008a). Even in the absence of provocation or criticisms, narcissists aggress against innocent individuals who might be viewed as potential threats foregoing an escalation in aggression, such as verbal aggression, and resort to intense aggressive acts as their initial method of resolving ego threats and satisfying their sense of entitlement (Martinez et al, 2008).…”

“…Psychopaths have a strong need for psychological and/or physical control to reinforce their authority especially if there are perceived threats by others (Martens, 2003). Psychopathy is one of the strongest predictors of aggression and violence and the distinct psychopathic traits of lack of empathy and lack of remorse are the best indicators of aggression especially in unprovoked aggression (Reidy, Zeichner, & Martinez, 2008a). Expanding on Martens (2003), research has shed light on the fact that the narcissistic sub-dimension of psychopathy is linked to the probability that a psychopath will resort to violence (Cale & Lilienfeld, 2006) to protect their self-image (Pincus & Lukowitsky, 2009).…”