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Evaluating the Association Between Psychopathy and Specific Attachment Models in Adults
Elliott Christian1, Martin Sellbom1,2, Ross B Wilkinson3
1Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra.
Journal of Personality Disorders
|October 26, 2018
Summary
This study explored psychopathy and attachment styles. Peer relationships, like romantic and friend connections, significantly explained the link between psychopathy and general attachment patterns.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Attachment theory outlines how early relationships influence adult connection styles.
- Psychopathy is a personality construct characterized by antisocial behavior and callousness.
- Understanding the interplay between psychopathy and attachment is crucial for clinical and forensic psychology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between psychopathy and various attachment styles.
- To examine how these associations differ across specific relationship figures (romantic partners, mother, father, friends).
- To identify which relationship types contribute most to the psychopathy-attachment link.
Main Methods:
- Online survey data collected from Australian university and community samples (N=729).
- Utilized the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale.
- Employed a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Structures questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Specific attachment models showed small to moderate associations with psychopathy components.
- The strength and direction of these associations varied by relationship figure, psychopathy component, and attachment dimension.
- Peer relationships (romantic, friend) accounted for the majority of variance in the psychopathy-attachment relationship.
Conclusions:
- Attachment styles are linked to psychopathy, with variations across relationship types.
- Peer relationships appear particularly important in understanding the connection between psychopathy and attachment.
- Future research should focus on the role of peer relationships in psychopathy and attachment.
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