Psychopathy, Attractiveness and Aggression

• In Event: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychopathy, and Outcomes in Adulthood

Abstract

The goal of this project was to understand the effect attractiveness has on aggression based on levels of psychopathy. Previous research shows that individuals with higher psychopathy scores exhibit higher levels of aggressive behaviors than individuals who score lower on the spectrum of psychopathy. Research has also shown that people who are perceived as more attractive are more likely to experience more positive social interactions. However, a confounding factor is that attractiveness can be relative, thus a more reliable measure needs to be implemented. Past research has indicated that facial symmetry is a reliable measure of perceived attractiveness. The current study compared levels of aggression with levels of attractiveness within each group of high and low levels of psychopathy, separately. The current study used secondary data collected in a southwestern university in 2016, which included over 800 participants. Further, primary data was collected based on photos collected in 2016. Specifically, facial symmetry was measured using symmetry imaging. The newly collected symmetry data was used in analyses with the variables of interest from the existing data: aggression and psychopathy. Findings will be discussed concerning the effects of attractiveness on low and high levels of psychopathy associated with aggressive behavior.

Authors

• Kiley Leeann West, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Richard Lewis, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Danielle Boisvert, Sam Houston State University

• Todd Armstrong, University of Nebraska

• Jessica Wells, Boise State University