Women and Girls with Psychopathic Characteristics

Nicholls, Tonia L.; Odgers, Candice L.; Cooke, David J.

doi:10.1002/9780470516157.ch21

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 172 publications

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“…As noted previously (Forouzan & Cooke, ; Nicholls et al, ), there are several empirical reasons – a priori – to expect gender differences in psychopathy. Given the influence of gender on many other disorders, with women tending to present with more internalizing disorders (e.g., depression) and men with more externalizing disorders (e.g., substance misuse) (Paris, ), it would be surprising if gender did not affect the expression of psychopathic traits.…”

Section: Why and Where Would Gender Differences Be Expected In Psychomentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Thus, relatively little is known about this severe personality disorder in females. Although sparse, with inconsistent research findings, the extant literature suggests there are differences in the nature and manifestation of psychopathic traits across gender – particularly in the expression of interpersonal and behavioral features (for reviews, see e.g., Cale & Lilienfeld, ; Forouzan & Cooke, ; Logan, ; Logan & Weizmann‐Henelius, in press; Nicholls, Odgers & Cooke, ; Nicholls & Petrila, ; Verona & Vitale, ). This literature postulates that psychopathic women may be – or present as – less grandiose, physically domineering and aggressive than psychopathic men, and may use more relational aggression and sexual seduction to manipulate, dominate, and exploit others.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Capturing the Psychopathic Female: A Prototypicality Analysis of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) Across Gender

Kreis

Cooke

2011

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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104

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Psychopathy in women has been subject to little systematic investigation; no coherent conceptualization of the disorder in women exists. Previous research is constrained by the reliance both on a male conceptualization of psychopathy and on assessment instruments developed, and primarily validated, with men. This study utilized a newly developed, broad, personality-based, and gender-sensitive lexical model of psychopathy, the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP). Prototypical analysis was used to explore gender differences in the construct and the content validity of the CAPP model across gender. Symptoms were rated by international mental health professionals (N = 132). The findings support the content validity of the CAPP across gender and suggest that - at symptom and domain levels - psychopathic men and women have key similarities, but also that important gender differences exists. This has implications for the assessment of psychopathy in women, and has relevance for the proposed revision of diagnostic criteria for personality disorders.

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Section: Why and Where Would Gender Differences Be Expected In Psychomentioning

confidence: 79%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing the Psychopathic Female: A Prototypicality Analysis of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) Across Gender

Kreis

Cooke

2011

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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104

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“…Especially because of potentially adverse implications, Nicholls et al. argue that the application of psychopathy in females should “remain under close scrutiny” even as they recognize that psychopathy could have “theoretical and practical relevance to females” (, p. 361).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…According to some estimates (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19), the prevalence of psychopathy is observed in [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].4% of women who commit violent acts, as compared to the 31% estimated among their male counterparts. However, it is possible that the identified psychopathological dimension in the female gender is being underestimated.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The "label" of psychopathy, it is argued, can have negative consequences such as denial of treatment, biasing judges and therapists (13) against the person, and favoring capital punishment for those convicted of capital offenses in the United States (14). Especially because of potentially adverse implications, Nicholls et al argue that the application of psychopathy in females should "remain under close scrutiny" even as they recognize that psychopathy could have "theoretical and practical relevance to females" ( [15], p. 361).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Psychopathy and Female Gender: Phenotypic Expression and Comorbidity; A Study Comparing a Sample of Women Hospitalized in Italy's Maximum Security Facility with Women Who were Criminally Sentenced and Imprisoned,

Carabellese

Felthous

Tegola

et al. 2019

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Various studies have shown that women with psychopathy tend to commit crimes that are less violent than those of psychopathic men. The present study was designed to address the influence of psychopathy on the crimes committed by female offenders. A national sample of female offenders found NGRI or of diminished responsibility and at risk for criminal recidivism (OPG patients) was compared with a sample of female offenders who were convicted and imprisoned. Results of this comparison between the two groups of female offenders indicate that psychopathy is a transversal psychopathological dimension which may or may not be associated with other mental disorders. In both samples, the most commonly reported offenses among women with high PCL‐R scores were minor offenses, not particularly violent, but they appear to be related to typical psychopathic features such as superficial charm, pathological lying, and manipulation.

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Introduction to this Issue: Violent and Antisocial Behavior in Women

Stanford

Felthous

2011

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Psychopathy in women, long a neglected topic, has gained some measure of attention in recent years. In 2005 and 2006, Nicholls and Petrila co-edited two companion issues of Behavioral Sciences and the Law on gender and psychopathy. Although commenting that authors are increasingly recognizing the relevance of psychopathy in women, Nicholls and Petrila (2005) noted the lack of research in that area. Also noting that until recently psychopathy in women had been overlooked by researchers, Verona and Vitale (2006) found in the literature both similarities and remarkable differences in psychopathy in women in comparison with male psychopathy. In a further review of the literature on the topic Nicholls, Odgers, and Cooke (2007) observed that while there is good reason to apply the construct to women, the manifestation and prevalence rates of psychopathy are markedly different in women and girls. They concluded with the recognized need for more research on female psychopathy while cautioning against uncritical application of the construct of psychopathy to women.Most efforts to understand violent and antisocial behavior have tended to focus on males, since men show greater involvement in these behaviors. Yet it is equally, if not more, important to understand female involvement in these behaviors. For example, learning why women commit fewer crimes and show less violence than men could help to illuminate the underlying causes of these problem behaviors and how they might better be controlled. While gender is the single best predictor of violent and antisocial behavior (men committing more and women committing less), this distinction appears to be changing. Presently women comprise a small segment of all the people serving prison terms in the U.S., but their number is rising at a far faster rate than that of men.In correctional populations generally, Lewis (2010) observed differences in the likelihood and patterns of criminal offending among women. For example, female offenders tend to show higher co-morbidities and more complicated psychopathology. Because the vast majority of prisoners are men, correctional services, including mental health services, have been developed primarily for male offenders (Lewis, 2010); sometimes, it should be added, with resultant discrepancies in the mental health care services afforded to female offenders, discrepancies that can be exacerbated by a comparative dearth of informing research.This special issue consists of a selection of original research reports representing investigations into diverse aspects of violent and aggressive behavior in women. We believe these studies advance the knowledge of abnormal aggression in women in 10 critical areas. We hope the readers of Behavioral Sciences and the Law concur.

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Women and Girls with Psychopathic Characteristics

Cited by 14 publications

References 172 publications

Capturing the Psychopathic Female: A Prototypicality Analysis of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) Across Gender

Capturing the Psychopathic Female: A Prototypicality Analysis of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) Across Gender

Psychopathy and Female Gender: Phenotypic Expression and Comorbidity; A Study Comparing a Sample of Women Hospitalized in Italy's Maximum Security Facility with Women Who were Criminally Sentenced and Imprisoned,

Introduction to this Issue: Violent and Antisocial Behavior in Women

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