Thesis
The role of insight among community members with psychopathic characteristics
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
03 Dec 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000258
Abstract
Contemporary research suggests that psychopathic traits exist on a continuum and that these traits combine to form multiple configurations resulting in various presentations of the disorder. Although a lack of insight is considered characteristic of this disorder, research suggests that populations with these psychopathic traits are diverse and capable of integrating and processing information in distinct ways and perceive their surroundings differently from their psychopathic counterparts, which warrants further investigation. Insight might serve as one possible explanation for the observed differences within psychopathic populations. The current study investigated whether insight into psychopathy is associated with more successful outcomes (i.e., avoiding criminality) among individuals with psychopathic characteristics in the community. This study examined four groups: individuals with high psychopathic traits and high insight, individuals with high psychopathic traits and low insight, individuals with low psychopathic traits and high insight, and individuals with low psychopathic traits and low insight. Participants (N = 197) were recruited via Mechanical Turk and grouped into one of the four conditions based on endorsed levels of insight and psychopathic traits. Results revealed no significant differences between psychopathic traits, insight, and successful outcomes, but there were significant differences between psychopathic traits, insight, and successfully evading criminal detection.
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Details
- Title
- The role of insight among community members with psychopathic characteristics
- Creators
- Claire Lankford
- Contributors
- David S. DeMatteo (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- iv, 53 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991014695136104721