Taina Laajasalo1,2, Eeva T Aronen3,4, Suvi Saukkonen3,4, Venla Salmi5, Mikko Aaltonen5, Janne Kivivuori5. 1. Forensic Psychiatric Center for Children and Adolescents, Children's Hospital, Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 2. Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 3. Children's Hospital, Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 4. Clinical Institute, Clinic for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 5. Criminological Unit, National Research Institute of Legal Policy, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with high psychopathy scores are capable of providing valid self-reports on their own personality traits, but there have been no empirical studies of the effect of psychopathic features on responding to sensitive survey questions about specific behaviours. AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate any relationship between facets of psychopathy and participants' willingness to report antisocial acts in youth delinquency surveys, controlling for demographic variables known to be associated with response integrity. METHODS: In a nationally representative sample of 4,855 Finnish mainstream adolescents aged 15-16, honesty of responding was assessed through direct response integrity questions related to violence, property crime and drug use. Psychopathy was measured with the Antisocial Process Screening Device - Self Report (APSD-SR). RESULTS: Callous-unemotional traits and, to a lesser degree, narcissistic features were associated with a dishonest response style, although the effect size was modest. CONCLUSIONS: Although psychopathy does not seem to influence the capability and willingness to report personality traits accurately, it may be associated with endorsing dishonest responses to questions about specific behaviours that have possible repercussions. Our findings suggest that previously observed associations between adolescents' self-reported delinquent behaviour and psychopathic traits may be underestimations of the strength of the effects.
BACKGROUND: Individuals with high psychopathy scores are capable of providing valid self-reports on their own personality traits, but there have been no empirical studies of the effect of psychopathic features on responding to sensitive survey questions about specific behaviours. AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate any relationship between facets of psychopathy and participants' willingness to report antisocial acts in youth delinquency surveys, controlling for demographic variables known to be associated with response integrity. METHODS: In a nationally representative sample of 4,855 Finnish mainstream adolescents aged 15-16, honesty of responding was assessed through direct response integrity questions related to violence, property crime and drug use. Psychopathy was measured with the Antisocial Process Screening Device - Self Report (APSD-SR). RESULTS: Callous-unemotional traits and, to a lesser degree, narcissistic features were associated with a dishonest response style, although the effect size was modest. CONCLUSIONS: Although psychopathy does not seem to influence the capability and willingness to report personality traits accurately, it may be associated with endorsing dishonest responses to questions about specific behaviours that have possible repercussions. Our findings suggest that previously observed associations between adolescents' self-reported delinquent behaviour and psychopathic traits may be underestimations of the strength of the effects.
Authors: Catherine Shaffer; Dylan Gatner; Andrew L Gray; Kevin S Douglas; Jodi L Viljoen; Roger Tweed; Gira Bhatt; Stephen Dooley; Nathalie Gagnon Journal: J Abnorm Child Psychol Date: 2016-11
Authors: Katherine B Bevans; Isaac L Ahuvia; Taye M Hallock; Rochelle Mendonca; Stephanie Roth; Christopher B Forrest; Courtney Blackwell; Jessica Kramer; Lauren Wakschlag Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2020-01-03 Impact factor: 4.147