| Abstract [eng] |
Difficulties in emotional functioning are a central feature of psychopathy, but there is a lack of research examining the links between psychopathy and domains of emotional functioning such as emotional awareness and emotional flatness. These studies are particularly relevant for convicted males, as psychopathy is strongly associated with antisocial and criminal behavior. The aim of the present study was to analyze the psychopathy-specific features of emotional functioning among convicted males and to compare these results with those of non-convicted males. The participants were 104 males aged between 18 and 68 years (M = 36,23, SD = 12,81). The main sample consisted of 54 convicted males aged between 20 and 60 years (M = 35, SD = 9,78). The Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) (Patrick, 2010) was used to measure psychopathy; the 10-situation Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) (Lane et al., 1990) was used to measure emotional awareness; The Implicit Association Test (IAT) (Greenwald et al., 1998) was developed to measure the flatness of emotion perception. The results showed that convicted males, compared to non-convicted males, are more psychopathic, have lower emotional awareness and perceive emotions more flatly. There is a negative correlation between psychopathy and emotional awareness in both the convicted males and the total sample, but no correlation between psychopathy and the flatness of emotion perception. Emotional awareness of oneself and emotional awareness of others together explain up to 11 % of the total psychopathic behavior in the sample of convicted males and up to 13 % in the total sample. Lower emotional self-awareness, higher level of flatness in emotion perception and higher overall psychopathy increases the likelihood of being categorized as a convicted male. |
