NCJ Number
84273
Journal
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: (1982) Pages: 546-557
Date Published
1982
Length
12 pages
Annotation
An earlier study identified a high risk for violent crime in psychopathic prisoners when intelligence was considered as a moderator. The present investigation of 168 male prisoners sought to identify more specific models of violence relating to psychopathic status by considering additional cognitive factors that might relate to intelligence and to the expression of physical aggression.
Abstract
Three cognitive psychopathic models were suggested by the data. An impaired-processing psychopathic model of violent crime, involving low-IQ psychopaths, would explain the highest risk factor for violence by a combination of poor impulse control and low empathy and the lack of inhibitions against physical aggression associated with poor socialization. A sadistic, effective-processing, psychopathic model of violence was suggested by the higher empathy and better impulse control of the high-IQ psychopath. It was proposed that empathy promotes sadistic reinforcement by enhancing the psychopath's awareness of the victim's pain and distress. A defensive, impaired-processing, nonpsychopathic model of violence was proposed for the low-IQ nonpsychopaths: Effective self-reinforcement coupled with poor impulse control and low empathy place them in hazardous situations that exceed their cognitive skills. (Publisher abstract)