Psychopathy as a Clinical and Empirical Construct

Abstract

In this review, we focus on two major influences on current conceptualizations of psychopathy: one clinical, with its origins largely in the early case studies of Cleckley, and the other empirical, the result of widespread use of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) for assessment purposes. Some investigators assert that the PCL-R, ostensibly based on Cleckley's work, has "drifted" from the construct described in his Clinical Profile. We evaluate this profile, note its basis in an unrepresentative sample of patients, and suggest that its literal and uncritical acceptance by the research community has become problematical. We also argue that the idea of construct "drift" is irrelevant to current conceptualizations of psychopathy, which are better informed by the extensive empirical research on the integration of structural, genetic, developmental, personality, and neurobiological research findings than by rigid adherence to early clinical formulations. We offer some suggestions for future research on psychopathy.

The construct of psychopathy in a Chilean prison population

“…14 What is stated in the present study is that a good model fit constitutes evidence to support the tested hypothesis. Latent variables allow generalization of associations; in this study, as the latent variable model is sustained on the basis of a sample of individuals assessed in different ways, the likelihood of the model as a viable representation of a theoretical construct is strengthened.…”

“…15,38 The relation pattern between the factors and the individual items found in our analysis was similar to those found in the Canadian and U.S. samples, thus providing additional evidence to support the universality of the construct. 14 As expected for a self-reported instrument, CFA of the model with the SRP-SF showed a pattern of slightly lower item-to-factor loadings compared to the item loadings for the PCL-R. Nevertheless, the SRP-SF items also had significant factor loadings and acceptable model fit.…”

“…As discussed by Hare & Neumann,14 the PCL-R conceptualization of psychopathy involves a superordinate construct underpinned by four first-order factors or dimensions: interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial. More specifically, previous research has shown that the correlated first-order PCL-R factors can be accounted for by a second-order (superordinate) psychopathy factor.…”

“…The development of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and other measures for latent variable analysis made it possible to go further than exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and propose specific model hypotheses that can be statistically tested (e.g., item-to-factor associations as well as correlations between factors). 14 If the latent variable model receives support based on different samples of individuals that have been assessed in diverse ways, the sustainability of the model increases as a viable representation of a theoretical construct, because the latent variables allow generalization of associations. Recent studies based on latent variables analysis support the four-factor model of psychopathy.…”

The P-psychopathy continuum: Facets of Psychoticism and their associations with psychopathic tendencies

“…Accordingly, assessments of levels of psychopathic traits in abnormal and normal populations may be appropriate to study psychopathy fully (Hare & Neumann, 2008). …”