Defense Date

3-14-2011

Graduation Date

Spring 2011

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

School Psychology

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Tammy L. Hughes

Committee Member

Laura M. Crothers

Committee Member

Gibbs Y. Kanyongo

Keywords

Adolescents, APSD, ICU, PCL-YV, Psychopathy

Abstract

Youth who demonstrate callous and unemotional traits along with aggressive antisocial behaviors are more likely than youth who do not display callous and unemotional traits to continue those acts into adulthood. Similarly there is support in the literature that the psychopathy construct measured in adulthood are evidenced in youth. For example, psychopathy traits measured by the Psychopathy Check List-Revised (PCL-R), noted as the gold standard assessment measure of psychopathy in adults, has been slightly modified for use with youth (i.e., Psychopathy Checklist - Youth Version [PCL-Y V]). The PCL-YV has been identified as a useful predictor of aggressive behaviors among youths in juvenile facilities and psychiatric hospitals. However, research in this area is relatively new and there are a limited number of studies dedicated to its study. Additionally, several self, teacher, and parent report questionnaires have been developed to measure psychopathy in youth. These include Antisocial Processing Screening Device (APSD) or the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU). To date, there are limited studies examining the relationship of these measures to the PCL-YV. The purpose of the current study is to compare test measures used to assess the construct of psychopathy in youth. The current study examines the data collected within an alternative school setting where youth whose aggressive behavior has required direct, focused and sustained intervention to benefit from their educational environment. Seventy-four adolescent males ages 14-18 from a pre-existing database were included in the sample. The results indicate that the 3 and 4-factor models of psychopathy were supported. Further, the APSD 3 factors (narcissism, impulsivity, and callous/unemotional) accounted for 95% of the common variance in the PCL-YV. Further, consistent with previous research, there was little item correspondence between the APSD measures and the PCL-YV. Documenting the similarities and differences in regard to the construct of psychopathy is necessary in order to compare research findings and clinical reports using these different instruments. Results of the current study may be useful for educators working with youth who are not incarcerated and attending school.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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