Citation

Bowes SM, Watts AL, Thompson WW, Lilienfeld SO. Pers. Individ. Dif. 2019; 147: 144-155.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.024

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research suggests that the Boldness and Disinhibition traits of psychopathy are negatively and positively related to internalizing, respectively. Although the associations between psychopathy and internalizing are relatively well-demonstrated, few studies have examined the specificity of these associations with psychopathy as opposed to general personality. We sought to replicate and extend existing research by examining the relationships between multiple conceptualizations of psychopathy and internalizing (depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, anger) in two community samples (N1 = 430; N2 = 441). We also investigated (a) the contributions of general personality, (b) the possibility that Boldness traits are statistically protective against internalizing, and (c) gender differences in these relations. Consistent with prior research, boldness traits were negatively associated with internalizing, whereas Disinhibition traits were positively associated; Meanness traits were largely unrelated. General personality traits accounted for the majority of the relationships between psychopathy and internalizing, although Disinhibition traits were unique correlates of internalizing above-and-beyond general personality. We did not find robust evidence that Boldness buffers Disinhibition's relationships with internalizing, nor that gender moderated the relationships between psychopathy and internalizing. These results may bear meaningful implications regarding the conceptualization and assessment of internalizing disorders and psychopathy.

Language: en

Keywords

Boldness; Internalizing; Personality; Psychopathy