Testing theoretical models for future clinical practice in the treatment of psychopathy

The present study tests J.S. Wiggins and P.D. Trapnell's (1996. A dyadic-interactional perspective on the five-factor model. In J.S. Wiggins (Ed.), The five-factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives (pp. 88–162). New York, NY: Guilford Press) meta-concepts of community and agency and H. Richards’ (1998. Evil intent: Violence and disorders of the will. In T. Millon, E. Simonsen, M. Birket-Smith, & R.D. Davis (Eds.), Psychopathy, antisocial, criminal, and violent behavior (pp. 69–94). New York, NY: Guilford Press) model of structural affective, relational, and defensive deviances in pathological extreme self-states in psychopathic high-security and detention prisoners, to identify areas where psychopaths may be influenced to change. Male inmates (n = 16) were compared to non-criminal and non-personality disordered controls (n = 35) on measures of parental bonding, symptom- and character pathology, and psychological defense. Results revealed a tendency toward parental overprotection or control. A...