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Adolescent Psychopathy and the Big Five: Results from Two Samples

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Abstract

The present study examines the relation between psychopathy and the Big Five dimensions of personality in two samples of adolescents. Specifically, the study tests the hypothesis that the aspect of psychopathy representing selfishness, callousness, and interpersonal manipulation (Factor 1) is most strongly associated with low Agreeableness, whereas the aspect of psychopathy representing impulsivity, instability, and social deviance (Factor 2) is associated with low Agreeableness, low Conscientiousness, and high Neuroticism. Data from 13- and 16-year-old boys and their mothers from two samples of the Pittsburgh Youth Study are used to test these hypotheses. Results were consistent across age and rating source in supporting the initial hypotheses, providing support for the construct of juvenile psychopathy and the interpretation of psychopathy as a constellation of traits drawn from a general model of personality functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, U.S.A.

    Donald R. Lynam

  2. Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychology, University of London and University of Wisconsin, U.S.A.

    Avshalom Caspi & Terrie E. Moffitt

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, U.S.A.

    Adrian Raine

  4. Life History Studies Program Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, U.S.A.

    Rolf Loeber & Magda Stouthamer-Loeber

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 115 Kastle Hall, Lexington, Kentucky, 40506-0044

    Donald R. Lynam

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  1. Donald R. Lynam
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  2. Avshalom Caspi
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  4. Adrian Raine
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  5. Rolf Loeber
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  6. Magda Stouthamer-Loeber
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Correspondence to Donald R. Lynam.

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Lynam, D.R., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E. et al. Adolescent Psychopathy and the Big Five: Results from Two Samples. J Abnorm Child Psychol 33, 431–443 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-005-5724-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-005-5724-0

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