Refining the link between psychopathy, antisocial behavior, and empathy: A meta-analytical approach across different conceptual frameworks. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campos, Carlos; Pasion, Rita; Azeredo, Andreia; Ramião, Eduarda; Mazer, Prune; Macedo, Inês; Barbosa, Fernando
• Is Part Of: Clinical psychology review. Volume 94(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Psychopathy -- Personality -- Antisocial -- Empathy -- Theory of mind -- Social cognition; APSD Antisocial Process Screening Device -- ICU Inventory of Callous-Unemotional -- LSRP Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy -- PCL Psychopathy Checklist -- PPI Psychopathic Personality Inventory -- SRP Self-Report Psychopathy Scale -- TriPM Triarchic Psychopathy Measure -- YPI Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychology, Clinical -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7358

Abstract

Abstract: The current meta-analysis includes 477 records ( N = 142, 692) and comprehensively explores the complex interplay between psychopathy, antisocial behavior, and empathy. First, empathy domains (cognitive and affective) were used to dissociate antisocial behavior from psychopathy. Cognitive empathy was more impaired in antisocial groups ( g cognitive = −0.43; g affective = −0.11), while samples scoring higher in psychopathy displayed larger deficits in affective empathy ( g affective = −0.40; g cognitive = −0.22). Secondly, the specific associations between empathy domains and psychopathy dimensions were evaluated. Most effect sizes pertaining to psychopathy traits closely related to antisocial behavior were mild for both empathy domains ( r = −0.03 to −0.21). Callous-affective traits were largely correlated with affective empathy ( r = −0.34 to −0.46) and moderately correlated to cognitive empathy ( r = −0.26 to −0.27). Diverging results were found for the interpersonal dimension, as boldness-adaptive manifestations were unrelated to cognitive empathy ( r = 0.03), while non-adaptive interpersonal traits were negatively associated with both empathy domains ( r cognitive = −0.16; r affective = −0.25). Overall, these findings suggest that: (1) psychopathy and antisocial behavior display distinct empathic profiles; (2) psychopathy dimensions are differentially associated with cognitive and affective empathy; (3) the interaction between interpersonal traits and empathy domains is different across the conceptual models of psychopathy. Highlights: High psychopathy samples and antisocial groups present distinct empathy profiles. Antisocial-related psychopathy traits are only mildly related to empathy deficits. Callous-affective traits are strongly associated with reduced affective empathy. Non-adaptive interpersonal traits are negatively related to both empathy domains. Adaptive boldness traits are not associated with cognitive empathy impairment.