Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2012

Publication Source

Personality and Individual Differences

Abstract

Using a sample of 104 college students, this study tested the hypothesis that alexithymia is positively related to secondary (also known as “neurotic psychopathy”), but not primary psychopathy (i.e., inability to form emotional bonds with others and a fear insensitivity). Participants completed the TAS-20 (alexithymia), the LSRP (primary and secondary psychopathy), the PPI-R (psychopathy), and the trait version of the STAI (trait anxiety). The interaction between the latter two measures was used as a second index of primary and secondary psychopathy. Support was found for the study hypothesis with both methods of assessing psychopathy (i.e., the LSRP subscales or the combination of the PPI-R and the STAI). These results further our understanding of both alexithymia and psychopathy.

Highlights:

* We hypothesized that alexithymia would be related to secondary psychopathy.

* We hypothesized that alexithymia would not be related to primary psychopathy.

* Support for these hypotheses was used with two different ways of operationalizing psychopathy.

* Primary psychopathy was correlated with “externally oriented thinking."

Inclusive pages

45-50

ISBN/ISSN

0191-8869

Document Version

Postprint

Comments

This is the authors accepted manuscript of a work that later appeared in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, Vol. 52, Issue 1. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication.

Note: Other publications by the author Catherine J. Lutz-Zois may appear in the repository under the names Catherine J. Lutz or Catherine L. Zois.

Publisher

International Society for the Study of Individual Differences

Volume

52

Issue

1

Peer Reviewed

yes

Link to published version

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