A multi-method investigation of motive dispositions: affiliative and antagonistic dispositions in psychopathy
Journal of Criminal Psychology
ISSN: 2009-3829
Article publication date: 7 September 2023
Issue publication date: 26 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
To replicate and extend research on psychopathy and intrinsic interpersonal preferences under the broader umbrella of affiliation, intimacy and antagonism, this paper aims to examine motivational correlates of psychopathy in a nonclinical sample (N = 125).
Design/methodology/approach
We used a multimethod design, including self-reports, a behavioral task and a physiological assessment of motive dispositions (automatic affective reactions to stimuli of interpersonal transactions measured with facial electromyography).
Findings
Results showed that self-reported psychopathy was negatively associated with self-reported intimacy motive. In the same vein, via the social discounting task, this paper found a negative association between psychopathy and a tendency to share hypothetical monetary amounts with very close others. Finally, regarding fEMG findings, multilevel analyses revealed that although individuals with low levels of psychopathy reacted more positively to affiliative stimuli, individuals with high levels of psychopathy reacted equally positively to both affiliative and antagonistic stimuli, and these results were robust across psychopathy measures. Results remained mostly unchanged on the subscale level.
Originality/value
These findings highlight the contribution of multimethod assessments in capturing nuances of motivation. Implicit physiological measures might be particularly sensitive in capturing motive dispositions in relation to psychopathy. Identifying mechanisms that foster positive connections between psychopathic traits and nonprosocial tendencies may be theoretically and clinically informative, with implications for forensic and penal practices.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Data availability statement: The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Informed Consent statement: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Conflict of interest Statement: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Spantidaki Kyriazi, F., Bogaerts, S., Denissen, J.J.A., Yuan, S., Dufner, M. and Garofalo, C. (2024), "A multi-method investigation of motive dispositions: affiliative and antagonistic dispositions in psychopathy", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 99-119. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-04-2023-0021
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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