Triarchic or septarchic?—Uncovering the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure’s (TriPM) structure.

Abstract

The Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) is based on a 3-dimensional conceptual model, though few studies have directly tested a 3-factor structure. The current study used a large community sample (N ϭ 1,064, 53% males, M age ϭ 34) to test the structure of the TriPM via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, along with 4 community replication samples from North American and Europe (Ns ϭ 511-603, 33-49% males) and 1 European male offender sample (N ϭ 150). Three of these samples were also used to model the correlations between relevant external correlates and the original TriPM factors versus emergent factors to examine the cost of misspecifying TriPM structure. The model analyses did not support a 3-factor model (comparative fit index ϭ .76, root mean square error of approximation ϭ .08), revealing a number of items with limited statistical information, but uncovered a 7-factor structure (comparative fit index ϭ .92, root mean square error of approximation ϭ .04). From the majority of Boldness, Meanness, and Disinhibition scale items, respectively, emerged 3 factors reflecting Positive Self-Image, Leadership, and Stress Immunity; 2 factors tapping Callousness and Enjoy Hurting; and 2 factors involving Trait Impulsivity and Overt Antisociality. Further, the Enjoy Hurting and Overt Antisociality factors were more strongly correlated with one another than with the other scales from their home domains (Callousness and Impulsivity). All 7 emergent factors were differentially associated with the external correlates, suggesting that the 3 original TriPM factors do not optimally represent the conceptual model underlying the TriPM.

The Perils of Untested Assumptions in Theory Testing: A Reply to Patrick et al. (2020)

“…Patrick et al relied on a single sample of college students with TriPM data and presented results inconsistent with our analyses of general population samples, and some of their own previously published TriPM results (Somma et al 2019). Based on meta-analytic and structural research of the TriPM (Collison et al, 2020;Roy et al, 2020;Sleep et al, 2019;Stanton et al, 2020), there is clear evidence of multidimensionality for each triarchic scale and continued concerns regarding the structural validity of the TriPM. Moreover, the original TriPM scales used in contemporary research do not match up with the ESEM model that Patrick et al employ with item cross-loadings (some very large) and 153 correlated residuals.…”

“…It is noteworthy that three recent studies involving TriPM item level analyses (9 samples in total) have all raised numerous concerns (Collison et al, 2020;Stanton et al, 2020;Roy et al, 2020) and the problems identified tend to be quite consistent irrespective of the approach used. All three studies identified similar problems such as poor statistical fit for the a priori triarchic model, items with poor psychometric properties (e.g., item cross-loadings, low factor loadings), and the presence of significant multidimensionality within the TriPM domains.…”

“…For instance, the second edition of the Handbook of Psychopathy (Patrick, 2018) uses the triarchic model as an organizing framework. Most measures of psychopathy have undergone intensive structural analyses (see Roy et al, 2020). It was surprising to us that despite the many thousands of data points available to the 22 authors of the Patrick et al response, they chose not to demonstrate the robust structural validity of the TriPM 2 .…”

“…The multidimensionality evident in each TriPM domain is not surprising given their development. Fearless Dominance (FD), an empirical referent for Boldness (Patrick et al, 2020), is multidimensional (see Roy et al, 2020). The DSM-5 psychopathy specifier, created to instantiate FD/Boldness in the diagnostic nosology, contains multiple dimensions that have differential relationships with external correlates (Miller et al, 2018), which Roy et al replicated when examining the TriPM Boldness scale.…”

The Empathic Brain of Psychopaths: From Social Science to Neuroscience in Empathy

“…One of the alternative frameworks of psychopathy that addresses the above multiple psychopathy types principle, is the Triarchic Psychopathy Model. Patrick et al (2009) have proposed this conceptualization based on the observation that previous literature reveals three important facets within the construct of psychopathy: boldness (reduced emotionality, resilience to stress, and social dominance), meanness (lack of empathy, cruelty, and aggressive behavior toward others), and disinhibition (impulsivity and dysregulation of negative affect) (but see Roy et al, 2020 for a septarchic structure of this model). These three constructs are viewed as connected, yet distinct from one another, and can be measured and understood separately.…”