Psychopathic and borderline traits in a college sample: Personality profiles and relations to self-directed and other-directed aggression. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lago-Gonzalez, Lucia; Bronchain, Jonathan; Chabrol, Henri
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 168(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Psychopathy -- Borderline -- Other-directed aggression -- Self-directed aggression -- Cluster analysis -- Person-centered approach; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110390
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Previous research suggests that the association of psychopathic and borderline traits increases overall psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety, emotional distress, impulsivity, and aggressive behavior). This study aimed to investigate self- and other-directed aggression in personality profiles characterized by different levels of psychopathic and borderline traits. Participants were 622 university students (79.90% females and 20.10% males) who received measures of psychopathic traits, borderline traits, and self- and other-directed aggression. Hierarchical clustering was used to determine the optimal number of clusters, followed by K-means to assign each participant to one of the identified clusters. We identified four groups: A high psychopathic and borderline traits cluster (H), a low psychopathic and borderline traits cluster (L), a high psychopathic and low borderline traits cluster (P), and a high borderline and low psychopathic traits cluster (B). The P-cluster was characterized by higher levels of other-directed, and the B-cluster by higher levels of self-directed aggression. The H-cluster was characterized by the highest levels of both self- and other-directed aggression. The results of this study suggest that there is a significant minority of university students characterized by the presence of both psychopathic and borderline traits with higher levels of self- and other-directed aggression. Highlights: Psychopathic and borderline traits were measured in a sample of college students. Psychopathic and borderline traits were moderately correlated. Cluster analysis extracted a group high in both traits. The High-traits cluster had increased self- and other-directed aggression. First study on psychopathic/borderline traits and self/other-directed aggression