The classification of psychopathy

• Published in: Aggression and violent behavior Vol. 59; p. 101473
• Main Authors: Sellbom, Martin, Drislane, Laura E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tarrytown Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Antisocial personality disorder; Classification; Literature reviews; Psychopathy; Subtypes; Taxometrics; Triarchic psychopathy model; Variants; Triarchic psychopathy model; Subtypes; Taxometrics; Psychopathy; Classification
• ISSN: 1359-1789; 1873-6335
• DOI: 10.1016/j.avb.2020.101473

The current article reviews the literature regarding several issues that are relevant to the classification of psychopathy. We make the argument based on the available literature that psychopathy cannot be easily categorized in a qualitative manner but rather is a dimensional construct. We also make the claim that psychopathy is not unitary. Indeed, virtually all available research points to psychopathy being multidimensional and therefore gives rise to the potential of multiple constellations of traits (i.e., subtypes or variants) that fall under the broader umbrella term of psychopathy. We review the literature on subtypes of psychopathy, which is in our opinion the best perspective from which to consider psychopathy classification, with the caveat that such constellations or ‘psychopathy variants’ are also dimensional in nature and would vary in severity. We also added an empirical contribution in which we replicate and expand upon the existing psychopathy subtype literature in a novel way. We end our article with general implications and discussion of future directions in this area.
•Psychopathy cannot be easily categorized in a qualitative manner but rather is a dimensional construct.•Psychopathy is not unitary and virtually all available research points to psychopathy being multidimensional and therefore gives rise to the potential of multiple constellations of traits (i.e., subtypes or variants) that fall under the broader umbrella term of psychopathy.•Subtypes or ‘variants’ of psychopathy is, in our opinion, the best perspective from which to consider psychopathy classification, with the caveat that such constellations or ‘psychopathy variants’ are also dimensional in nature and would vary in severity.•There is considerable historical and empirical support for two psychopathy variants: primary (or ‘emotionally stable’) psychopathy and secondary (or ‘aggressive’) psychopathy.•Differential violence risk prediction and intervention strategies should be considered on the basis of different psychopathy variants.