title: Theory of Mind, Social Desirability, and Unlikely Symptom Reporting in Offenders With and Without Psychopathy.
abstract: The current study investigated the relationship between psychopathy and theory of mind (ToM), by comparing the performance of nonpsychopathic offenders (n = 40), psychopathic offenders (n = 42), and nonoffender controls (n = 26) on Happé's test of ToM (Happé, 1994). In addition, we investigated whether offenders' ToM skills would moderate the association between the antisocial psychopathy component (Factor 2) and self-presentation (i.e., the tendency to report social desirability and unlikely symptoms). Results showed groups did not differ in ToM performance. As expected though, ToM moderated the association between psychopathy and self-presentation: only for offenders relatively high in ToM, Factor 2 was strongly related to less social desirability and more unlikely symptom reporting. These results could indicate that offenders who are high in both ToM and Factor 2 exaggerate their mental dysfunction to express their need for clinical attention. Results are used to critically evaluate the interpretation of occurrences in which offenders overplay their psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht; †Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam; ‡Forensic Psychiatric Center (F.P.C.) Dr. S. van Mesdag, Groningen; §F.P.C. Veldzicht, Balkbrug; and ∥Forensic and Psychiatric Hospital Assen, Assen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lieke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nentjes
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Arnoud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arntz
authors.forename: Mariëtte E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Slaats
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hannemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D012928:Social Desirability; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult