Miss Zahni Smith1, Dr Taylor Swain1, Dr Anthony Venning1, Dr Natalie Goulter1
1Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
Biography:
Zahni Smith is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at Flinders University, researching psychopathy variants in forensic populations. Her work focuses on emotional functioning, personality pathology, and behavioural risk factors among adults with histories of offending and incarceration. Zahni also holds a Master of Social Work and has worked in forensic disability roles supporting people involved in the legal system with complex support needs.
Abstract:
Psychopathy is increasingly understood as a heterogenous construct, with individuals showing varying presentations across diverse maladaptive traits and behaviours. Despite the theoretical importance of emotional, personality, and behavioural functioning, few studies have examined whether individuals with primary and secondary psychopathy variants differ across in-depth measurement of these domains, particularly within forensic samples. Clarifying whether variant distinctions are evident in forensic populations is essential for informing risk assessment, intervention planning, and theoretical models of psychopathy.
The present study aims to identify primary and secondary psychopathy variants in a mixed-sex adult forensic sample (approx. N = 280) and compare these profiles on theoretically relevant but understudied emotional, personality, and behavioural features. Adults with a history of offending and prior incarceration were recruited via Prolific, and completed online questionnaires assessing psychopathy traits, emotional functioning (including affect dysregulation, suppression, reflection), personality and psychopathology characteristics (as assessed by dimensional models including the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology measure), and proactive and reactive behavioural aggression tendencies. Latent profiles will be identified using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars (BCH) method based on psychopathy traits and anxiety. Profiles with then be compared on validating variables (i.e., maltreatment history) and outcome variables capturing emotional, personality, and behavioural functioning. Analyses will clarify whether psychopathy variant distinctions are observable in forensic samples and whether these distinctions correspond to meaningful differences across domains of functioning. Establishing the presence and relevance of psychopathy variants in forensic populations may support more nuanced case formulation, inform responsivity-focused intervention planning, and contribute to contemporary models of psychopathy.