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Psychopathy facets, perceived power, and forms of aggression
Edelyn Verona1, Sean J McKinley1, Amy Hoffmann2
1Department of Psychology, University of South Florida.
Personality Disorders
|March 31, 2022
Summary
This study reveals distinct psychopathy facets relate to specific aggression types. The desire for power independently predicts multiple forms of aggression, unlike feeling powerful.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Psychopathy is linked to dominance and control, but its relation to aggression via power dynamics is unexplored.
- Existing research lacks examination of how feelings of and desire for power influence psychopathy-related aggression.
Approach:
- Investigated the contributions of feeling powerful and desiring power alongside distinct psychopathy facets.
- Analyzed aggression forms (physical, verbal, indirect) across four samples using regression and meta-analysis.
Key Points:
- Impulsive psychopathy facet linked to multiple aggression forms.
- Affective facet uniquely predicted physical aggression; interpersonal facet predicted indirect aggression.
- Desiring power uniquely contributed to multiple aggression forms; feeling powerful did not.
Conclusions:
- Psychopathy facets show specialized relationships with aggression types.
- Desire for power may be an independent predictor of aggression proneness.
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