Refining the construct of psychopathy: Towards a hierarchical model.

Abstract

Psychopathy is characterized by diverse indicators. Clinical accounts have emphasized 3 distinct facets: interpersonal, affective, and behavioral. Research using the Psychopathy Checklist--Revised (PCL-R), however, has emphasized a 2-factor model. A review of the literature on the PCL-R and related measures of psychopathy, together with confirmatory factor analysis of PCL-R data from North American participants, indicates that the 2-factor model cannot be sustained. A 3-factor hierarchical model was developed in which a coherent superordinate factor, Psychopathy, is underpinned by 3 factors: Arrogant and Deceitful Interpersonal Style, Deficient Affective Experience, and Impulsive and Irresponsible Behavioral Style. The model was cross-validated on North American and Scottish PCL-R data, Psychopathy Screening Version data, and data derived from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) antisocial personality disorder field trial.

Dissociable relations between amygdala subregional networks and psychopathy trait dimensions in conduct‐disordered juvenile offenders

“…The YPI is a widely used instrument composed of 50 self‐report items that assess adult psychopathy‐like personality traits in juveniles, with adequate validity and reliability [Neumann and Pardini, 2014; Pihet et al, 2014; Poythress et al, 2006]. Its items collectively probe the widely accepted 3‐factor model of psychopathy, which asserts deviations in affective, interpersonal, and behavioral personality domains (i.e., trait dimensions) [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Jones et al, 2006; Neumann et al, 2006; Perez et al, 2015; Skeem et al, 2003]. Its affective dimension comprises callousness, unemotionality, and remorselessness; its interpersonal dimension includes dishonest charm, egocentric grandiosity, lying, and manipulation; while its behavioral dimension features impulsiveness, thrill seeking, and irresponsibility.…”

“…Psychopathy is characterized by a pathological constellation of affective (e.g., callous, unemotional), interpersonal (e.g., manipulative, egocentric), and behavioral (e.g., impulsive, irresponsible) personality traits [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006]. The developmental trajectory of psychopathy seemingly begins early in life and includes the presence of nascent psychopathic traits in conduct‐disordered juveniles [Anderson and Kiehl, 2014; Colins et al, 2014; Frick and Viding, 2009; Lynam et al, 2007].…”

“…Echoing earlier work on amygdala subregional networks and their dissociable relations with psychopathy trait dimensions [Yoder et al, 2015], we hypothesized that both BLA and CMA connectivity would relate to the interpersonal dimension of psychopathy, while its affective dimension would relate primarily to CMA and its behavioral dimension primarily to BLA connectivity. Specifically, as interpersonal traits index a self‐centered, manipulative, and reward‐oriented interaction style [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], we speculated that these traits would relate to BLA and CMA connectivity with regions supporting sociocognitive [Andrews‐Hanna et al, 2010; Li et al, 2014] and reward‐related [Haber, 2011; Naqvi and Bechara, 2009] processes. In contrast, as affective psychopathic traits index callousness and lack of negative emotionality [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], it may seem reasonable to assume an association between these traits and connectivity of CMA with regions serving affective saliency and emotional responding [Etkin et al, 2011; Pessoa, 2011; Seeley et al, 2007].…”

“…Specifically, as interpersonal traits index a self‐centered, manipulative, and reward‐oriented interaction style [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], we speculated that these traits would relate to BLA and CMA connectivity with regions supporting sociocognitive [Andrews‐Hanna et al, 2010; Li et al, 2014] and reward‐related [Haber, 2011; Naqvi and Bechara, 2009] processes. In contrast, as affective psychopathic traits index callousness and lack of negative emotionality [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], it may seem reasonable to assume an association between these traits and connectivity of CMA with regions serving affective saliency and emotional responding [Etkin et al, 2011; Pessoa, 2011; Seeley et al, 2007]. Finally, as behavioral psychopathic traits index an impulsive, irresponsible, and disinhibited profile [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], one may speculate an association between these traits and connectivity of BLA with regions governing self‐regulation and action planning [Arnsten and Rubia, 2012; Menon, 2011; Seeley et al, 2007].…”

“…In contrast, as affective psychopathic traits index callousness and lack of negative emotionality [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], it may seem reasonable to assume an association between these traits and connectivity of CMA with regions serving affective saliency and emotional responding [Etkin et al, 2011; Pessoa, 2011; Seeley et al, 2007]. Finally, as behavioral psychopathic traits index an impulsive, irresponsible, and disinhibited profile [Andershed et al, 2007; Cooke and Michie, 2001; Neumann et al, 2006; Seara‐Cardoso and Viding, 2014], one may speculate an association between these traits and connectivity of BLA with regions governing self‐regulation and action planning [Arnsten and Rubia, 2012; Menon, 2011; Seeley et al, 2007]. Considering the developmental variation in amygdala subregional connectivity [Qin et al, 2012], exploratory analysis additionally probed whether these trait‐specific iFC patterns might be impacted by age.…”