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Motivational dominance in psychopaths
B A Thomas-Peter1, J D McDonagh
1Department of Psychology, Reaside Clinic, Rubery, Birmingham, UK.
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Psychopaths were not paratelic dominant as hypothesized; instead, they showed more telic dominance. Non-psychopathic offenders, not psychopaths, significantly influenced telic dominance measures.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The study investigates telic dominance in psychopaths, challenging existing hypotheses.
- Apter's (1982) hypothesis suggested psychopaths are paratelic dominant, prioritizing immediate arousal over future planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test Apter's hypothesis regarding psychopathic telic dominance.
- To explore telic dominance across different offender subtypes and control groups.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of 37 male psychopaths with 29 age-matched controls using four telic dominance measures.
- Subgroup analysis of the experimental group into primary psychopaths, secondary psychopaths, and non-psychopathic offenders.
Main Results:
- Contrary to hypothesis, psychopaths as a broad category exhibited greater telic dominance than controls.
- Significant differences in telic dominance were found across all subgroups and controls.
- Extreme telic dominance scores in the non-psychopathic offender group were the primary driver of these differences.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that psychopaths are paratelic dominant.
- No systematic telic dominance differences were observed between normal individuals and psychopathic groups.
- Non-psychopathic offenders displayed distinct telic dominance patterns compared to psychopaths and controls.