Psychopathy, Traumatic Exposure, and Lifetime Posttraumatic Stress

• Published in: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology 2012-06, Vol.56 (4), p.505-524
• Main Authors: Willemsen, Jochem, De Ganck, Julie, Verhaeghe, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Affect - physiology; Aged; Amygdala - physiopathology; Antisocial Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Antisocial Personality Disorder - physiopathology; Antisocial Personality Disorder - psychology; Anxiety; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - physiopathology; Anxiety - psychology; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Life Change Events; Life Style; Lifestyle; Lifestyles; Male; Males; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Personality Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prisoners - psychology; Psychology; Psychometrics; Psychopathology; Risk; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Stress; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Studies; Trauma; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0306-624X; 1552-6933
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X11407443

This study examined two theoretical models on the interaction between psychopathy, traumatic exposure, and lifetime posttraumatic stress in a sample of 81 male detainees. In Model 1, the interpersonal and affective features of psychopathy were assumed to protect against posttraumatic stress. In Model 2, the lifestyle and antisocial traits of psychopathy were assumed to lead to a lifestyle that increases the risk of traumatic exposure and subsequent posttraumatic stress. The authors found significant negative bivariate associations between Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R) total, Interpersonal and Affective facet scores, and posttraumatic stress. Model 1 was confirmed, as they found the interaction between the Affective facet and traumatic exposure had a significant negative effect on posttraumatic stress. Model 2 was rejected. The authors’ findings confirm that the interpersonal and affective features of psychopathy are associated with an emotional deficit and that the affective features of psychopathy are crucial for understanding the relationship between psychopathy and anxiety.