Psychopathy and Body Language Vulnerability Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

The project seeks to further examine previously identified correlations between level of psychopathic traits and an individual’s ability to identify vulnerability in other persons based on limited observations of body language. Previous studies have found white males higher in psychopathic traits to be better at picking up on vulnerability. This project expands the demographic characteristics (both genders and all races) of those assessed. It also examines the potential for a spurious relationship between psychopathy and vulnerability assessment, stemming from mutual association with criminal experience, which was not measured in the prior studies.

Authors

• Barbara Joyce Dinkins, University of South Florida

• Shayne Jones, University of South Florida