Reconstruing the "reconstruction" of psychopathy: a comment on Cooke, Michie, Hart, and Clark.
In this comment we highlight critical problems in the estimation of parameters for their hierarchical three-factor model of psychopathy, as assessed with the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, and their interpretation of these factors as causally related to socially deviant behavior. We argue that there is nothing "causal" about a model in which cross-sectional data are used to assert that antisocial tendencies are consequences of other more fundamental psychopathic traits. We present an equally viable model, based on the PCL-R four-factor solution, in which antisocial tendencies play a fundamental role in the construct of psychopathy, consistent with previous research and clinical tradition.
Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA. csn0001@unt.edu
Craig S
CS
Neumann
Michael J
MJ
Vitacco
Robert D
RD
Hare
Peggilee
P
Wupperman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011329:Prisoners; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires