title: Distinct variants of extreme psychopathic individuals in society at large: evidence from a population-based sample.
abstract: This study used model-based cluster analysis to identify subtypes of men who scored high in overall psychopathy (i.e., ≥ 95th percentile on the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure; n = 193) from a larger sample evaluated for service in the Finnish military (N = 4043). Cluster variates consisted of scores on distinct facets of psychopathy together with a measure of negative affectivity. The best-fitting model specified 2 clusters, representing "primary" (n = 110) and "secondary" psychopathy (n = 83) groups. Compared to a low-psychopathy comparison group (n = 1878), both psychopathy subgroups showed markedly elevated levels of externalizing symptoms and criminal behavior. Secondary psychopathic participants also reported high levels of internalizing problems including anxiousness, depression, and somatization, and scored higher on the disinhibition facet of psychopathy relative to the primary group. By contrast, primary psychopathic individuals reported fewer internalizing problems than either the secondary psychopathy or comparison groups and scored higher on the boldness facet of psychopathy. Primary psychopathic participants also had higher rates of violent crimes than the secondary psychopaths. Implications for conceptualizing and studying psychopathy in nonforensic populations are discussed.
authors: Department of Psychology.
authors: Laura E
authors: LE
authors: Drislane
authors: Department of Psychology.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Patrick
authors: Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku.
authors: Andre
authors: A
authors: Sourander
authors: Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku.
authors: Lauri
authors: L
authors: Sillanmäki
authors: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry.
authors: Steven H
authors: SH
authors: Aggen
authors: Faculty of Law, University of Turku.
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Elonheimo
authors: Finnish Defense Forces.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Parkkola
authors: Finnish Defense Forces.
authors: Petteri
authors: P
authors: Multimäki
authors: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry.
authors: Kenneth S
authors: KS
authors: Kendler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires