Criminal Psychopath free essay sample

We used cluster analysis to replicate and extend those findings to: 1) an independent sample; and 2) a PCL-R factor model that reduces predictor-criterion contamination. Additionally, we validated initial results using a novel clustering method. Results show that psychopathy subtypes are replicable across methods. Moreover, comparisons on other variables provide external validation of the subtypes consistent with prior theoretical conceptualizations. Criminal offenders differ in important ways, and the classification of offenders into homogeneous groups has long been the subject of scientific inquiry.Such subdivision may inform efficient application of treatments and may be useful in the prediction of future dangerousness. Personality disorders are often considered useful in classifying criminal offenders. Among these, psychopathy, with its association with impulsivity, egocentricity and remorselessness, may be of particular use in offender taxonomies. Psychopathy is reported to predict both violent and non-violent recidivism as well as lack of treatment response and a variety of deficits in emotional and cognitive function. We will write a custom essay sample on Criminal Psychopath or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The gold standard for assessing psychopathy is the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised.Extensive research attests to the reliability and validity of the PCL-R as a measure of psychopathy. Of the different structural models that underlie PCL-R scores, the two-factor model has dominated the literature. In this model, Factor 1 consists of items related to affective and interpersonal behavior, whereas Factor 2 items are related to antisocial lifestyle and social deviance. Alternatively, a three-factor model of psychopathy has been proposed in which Arrogant and Deceitful Interpersonal Style, Deficient Affective Experience, and Impulsive and Irresponsible Behavioral Style comprise the dimensions underpinning psychopathy.These three factors correspond closely with the three domains — affective, interpersonal and behavioral and   then argued that the two-factor model provides an insufficient description of psychopathy and that all three factors in the newer model are necessary for characterizing the disorder. Recently, a four-facet model has been proposed that incorporates the three factors utilized by Cooke and Michie, along with a facet comprised of PCL-R items r elated to antisocial behavior. A variety of sources suggest that there is heterogeneity even within the subset of offenders who exhibit psychopathic features.One source of differences among psychopaths may relate to trait anxiety. There is considerable controversy regarding anxiety and psychopathy. Although deficient anxiety has been posited as the mechanism underlying psychopaths’ failure to respond to punishment, findings regarding this deficiency have been inconsistent with several studies reporting little association between psychopathy and self-reported anxiety and other studies noting unique positive and unique negative relations between anxiety and scores on each of the two dimensions reported to underlie psychopathy.It remains plausible; however, that elevated trait anxiety distinguishes a subgroup of psychopaths. Consistent with this view, numerous differences between high-anxious and low-anxious psychopaths have been demonstrated. As you can see psychopaths vary in many different ways. There can be so many outcomes when comparing them. Along with that there can be a very wide range levels on psychopaths. I was learning a lot about criminals in this state of mind just by researching information for this paper.