Psychopathy, Callousness, and Exposure to Violence (ETV): A Comparative Study Between Inmate and Non-Inmate Individuals

• In Event: New topics in psychopathy

Abstract

Psychopathy and callousness are personality traits associated with antisocial behavior and a lack of empathy. These traits have been found to predict violent behavior (Baskin & Sommers, 2014; Durant et al., 1994; Gaylord-Harden et al., 2011; Hawkins et al., 2000; Spano et al., 2006). Previous research has shown that psychopathy mediates the relationship between exposure to violence (ETV) and violent behavior (Estrada et al., 2020).
The present study aims to compare levels of psychopathy and callousness between inmate individuals and a non-inmate control group while also examining the relationship between ETV and these traits. To assess personality traits, we utilized (1) the Psychopathy subscale of the SD3 questionnaire – Italian version (Somma et al., 2020) and (2) the Callousness subscale of the LSRP – Italian translation (Somma et al., 2014). Additionally, participants provided self-reported data on their exposure to violence. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS v25 software.
The findings of this study will offer insights into whether psychopathy and callousness are more prevalent among inmate individuals and how ETV influences these traits. This research contributes to the understanding of the psychological profiles of offenders and the potential role of environmental factors in shaping antisocial characteristics.

Author

• Fabio Delicato, Criminiseriali Association