Aggression Profiles in Male Psychopaths

Horia Fabini

Abstract
Most of the studies investigating psychopathic aggression are examining rather the quantity of aggression, then its quality. In this study we are trying an assesment of social, self-harming and physical aggression in a sample of male inmates suffering of comorbid axis-II disorders. The question is based on the observation that aggression in pyschopaths diverges distinctively from aggression shown by other violent criminals (Porter und Woodworth, 2006[1]), and also on a postulated overlap between Alexithymia and Psychopathy (Louth et al., 1998[2]; Haviland et al., 2004[3]). Accordingly the primary hypothesis postulates that axis-II co-morbidities or respectively a co-morbid existing alexithymia are correlated with typical patterns of aggression. Secundarily it will be verifyed, whether specific axis-II disorders are correlated with an increased incidence of aggressive behaviour.

[1] Porter, S. and Woodworth, M. (2006): Psychopathy and aggression. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of psychopathy (481-494). New York: Guilford Press.
[2] Louth, S.M., Hare, R.D., & Linden, W. (1998). Psychopathy and alexithymia in female offenders. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, (30), 91-98.
[3] Haviland, M.G.; Sonne, J.I. & Kowert, P.A. (2004): Alexithymia and psychopathy: Comparison and application of California Q-set prototypes. Journal of Personality Assessment 82, 306-316.