Abstract
Adult psychopathy has proven to be an important clinical and forensic construct, but much less is known about juvenile psychopathy.
In the present study, we examined the construct validity of the self report modified Child Psychopathy Scale mCPS; Lynam (Psychological Bulletin 120:(2), 209–234, 1997) in a sample of 57 adolescents residing in a Dutch juvenile justice center, aged between 13 and 22 years. The mCPS total
score was reliably related to high externalizing problems, low empathy, high anger and aggression, high impulsivity, high
(violent) delinquency, and high alcohol/drug use. Unique relations were found for the antisocial-impulsive (mCPS Factor 2),
but not the callous-unemotional facet of psychopathy (mCPS Factor 1). Our findings support the validity of the mCPS in that
it encompasses the antisocial-impulsive facet of psychopathy, but it is less clear whether the mCPS sufficiently captures
the affective-interpersonal facet of psychopathy.
In the present study, we examined the construct validity of the self report modified Child Psychopathy Scale mCPS; Lynam (Psychological Bulletin 120:(2), 209–234, 1997) in a sample of 57 adolescents residing in a Dutch juvenile justice center, aged between 13 and 22 years. The mCPS total
score was reliably related to high externalizing problems, low empathy, high anger and aggression, high impulsivity, high
(violent) delinquency, and high alcohol/drug use. Unique relations were found for the antisocial-impulsive (mCPS Factor 2),
but not the callous-unemotional facet of psychopathy (mCPS Factor 1). Our findings support the validity of the mCPS in that
it encompasses the antisocial-impulsive facet of psychopathy, but it is less clear whether the mCPS sufficiently captures
the affective-interpersonal facet of psychopathy.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10862-011-9272-3
- Authors
- Bruno Verschuere, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Ingrid Candel, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Lique Van Reenen, St. Joseph Foundation, Cadier en Keer, The Netherlands
- Andries Korebrits, St. Joseph Foundation, Cadier en Keer, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Online ISSN 1573-3505
- Print ISSN 0882-2689