Related Experiment Videos
Adolescent psychopathy and the big five: results from two samples
Donald R Lynam1, Avshalom Caspi, Terrie E Moffitt
1Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0044, USA. dlyna1@pop.uky.edu
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|August 27, 2005
Summary
This study links juvenile psychopathy traits to personality dimensions in adolescent boys. Findings support that specific psychopathy factors correlate with low Agreeableness, low Conscientiousness, and high Neuroticism.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Psychopathy is a complex construct often studied in adults.
- Understanding juvenile psychopathy is crucial for early intervention.
- The Big Five personality dimensions provide a framework for understanding personality traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between psychopathy and the Big Five personality dimensions in adolescents.
- To test the hypothesis that specific factors of psychopathy are associated with particular Big Five traits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from two samples of the Pittsburgh Youth Study, including 13- and 16-year-old boys and their mothers.
- Assessed psychopathy and Big Five personality dimensions using established methods.
Main Results:
- Results consistently supported the hypotheses across different age groups and rating sources.
- Factor 1 of psychopathy (interpersonal manipulation) strongly correlated with low Agreeableness.
- Factor 2 of psychopathy (impulsivity, social deviance) correlated with low Agreeableness, low Conscientiousness, and high Neuroticism.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the construct of juvenile psychopathy.
- Psychopathy can be interpreted as a constellation of traits within a general personality model.
- These results have implications for understanding adolescent personality and psychopathology.