Testing a four-factor model of psychopathy and its association with ethnicity, gender, intelligence, and violence.
Although a 2-factor model has advanced research on the psychopathy construct, a 3-factor model was recently developed that emphasized pathological personality and eliminated antisocial behavior. However, dropping antisocial behavior from the psychopathy construct may not be advantageous. Using a large sample of psychiatric patients from the MacArthur Risk Assessment Study (J. Monahan & H. J. Steadman, 1994), the authors used confirmatory factor analysis to test a 4-factor model of psychopathy, which included interpersonal, affective, and behavioral impulsivity dimensions and an antisocial behavior dimension. Model fit was good for this 4-factor model, even when ethnicity, gender, and intelligence variables were included in the model. Structural equation modeling was used to compare the 3- and 4-factor models in predicting proximal (violence) and distal (intelligence) correlates of psychopathy.
Mendota Mental Health Institute, Madison, WI 53704, USA. vitacmj@dhfs.state.wi.us
Michael J
MJ
Vitacco
Craig S
CS
Neumann
Rebecca L
RL
Jackson
D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data