TY - JOUR PY - 2009// TI - Psychopathic traits and perceptions of victim vulnerability JO - Criminal justice and behavior A1 - Wheeler, Sarah A1 - Book, Angela S. A1 - Costello, Kimberly SP - 635 EP - 648 VL - 36 IS - 6 N2 - This study examines whether psychopathic traits in a nonreferred (and presumably nonpsychopathic) sample could enhance the accuracy of perceptions of victim vulnerability. In a previous study, the interpersonal and affective component of psychopathy was associated with increased accuracy in assessing vulnerability in dyadic conversations, and Grayson and Stein (1981) established that vulnerability could be assessed by observing targets walking. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals scoring higher on psychopathic traits would be better able to judge vulnerability to victimization after viewing short clips of targets walking. Participants provided a vulnerability estimate for each target and completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale: Version III (SRP-III). Higher SRP-III scores were associated with greater accuracy in assessing targets' vulnerability to victimization. Implications for the prevention of victimization are discussed.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0093-8548 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0093854809333958 ID - ref1 ER -