E-Thesis 271 views
Implicit measurement of psychopathic traits as predictors of impulsivity and fearlessness / JENNIFER PINK
Swansea University Author: JENNIFER PINK
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.69447
Abstract
Psychopathy is associated with duplicity, deception and manipulation. Thus, self-reports of psychopathic traits and those relying on the judgments of others may be somewhat unreliable. As an alternative to self-report measures, this thesis explored the potential of implicit measures, experimental ta...
| Published: |
Swansea, Wales, UK
2025
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Gray, Nicola S. ; Price, Menna J. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69447 |
| Abstract: |
Psychopathy is associated with duplicity, deception and manipulation. Thus, self-reports of psychopathic traits and those relying on the judgments of others may be somewhat unreliable. As an alternative to self-report measures, this thesis explored the potential of implicit measures, experimental tasks designed to tap into implicit processes, to index the psychopathic personality self-concept. Using the triarchic model of psychopathy as the conceptualisation of psychopathy, three novel Implicit Association Tests (IATs) were developed, one for each triarchic domain of psychopathy (Boldness, Meanness and Disinhibition). Priming tasks were also developed, using the same stimuli used in the IATs. Of the two tasks, only the IATs showed internal consistency and discriminant validity. Corresponding with dual-system models of cognition, the thesis next explored whether an implicit measure of psychopathy might be better at predicting more automatic or spontaneous psychopathic behaviours than a self-report equivalent measure. As the IATs had consistency and validity, these were used as the implicit measures of psychopathy. Behavioural tasks (Affect Misattribution Procedures, go/no-go task, Stroop tasks, attentional blink paradigm) were developed to use alongside the IATs. These intended to invoke more automatic or spontaneous behaviours associated with psychopathy. While limited predictive utility emerged for the IATs with these tasks, interesting findings emerged. The boldness-IAT was positively associated with threat ratings of threatening images, indicating that implicitly, bold individuals experience greater levels of threat. The disinhibition-IAT was variable in its relation to triarchic Disinhibition, possibly indicating that some disinhibited individuals may not implicitly view themselves as such. Furthermore, both the Stroop and go/no-go tasks, which index response inhibition, were associated with triarchic Disinhibition. Therefore, this thesis offers several contributions to the literature. It demonstrates the IAT’s potential in indexing the psychopathic self-concept and indicates that the implicit psychopathic self-concepts of Disinhibition and Boldness may differ from that represented by self-report measures. |
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| Item Description: |
ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3043-3774 |
| Keywords: |
psychopathy, impulsivity, implicit cognition |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
ESRC DTP |