title: Investigating the relationships between antisocial behaviors, psychopathic traits, and moral disengagement.
abstract: The present study investigated the relations between morally disengaged attitudes, psychopathic affective traits, and a variety of antisocial and risky behaviors in a sample of adults (N=181). A second aim of the study was to examine the unique contributions of moral disengagement and psychopathic traits in predicting problematic behavior while the other construct is statistically controlled. Results indicated that whereas psychopathic traits and moral disengagement were both uniquely predictive of non-violent antisocial behaviors, only remorselessness was uniquely predictive of violence and only morally disengaged attitudes were uniquely predictive of academic cheating. Differing relationships also emerged by gender.
authors.affiliation: Montana Tech of the University of Montana, United States. Electronic address: srisser@mtech.edu.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Risser
authors.affiliation: Montana Tech of the University of Montana, United States.
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
keywords: Academic dishonesty; Antisocial behaviors; Callous–unemotional traits; Moral disengagement