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The relation between psychopathy factors and emotional states prior and during criminal behaviour in a Dutch sample

Marije Keulen-de Vos (Department of Research, Forensic Psychiatric Centre de Rooyse Wissel, Venray, The Netherlands)
Martine Herzog-Evans (Department of CEJESCO, Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, Reims, France)
Massil Benbouriche (Department of Psychology, University of Lille, Roubaix, France)

Journal of Criminal Psychology

ISSN: 2009-3829

Article publication date: 22 September 2023

Issue publication date: 5 January 2024

263

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the predictive value of psychopathy features on crime-related emotional states in forensic male patients with offence histories who were mandated to Dutch clinical care.

Design/methodology/approach

The study had a retrospective design in which psychopathy features were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. For each patient, information on the events leading up to the crime and a description of the crime itself were extracted from the hospital record to assess emotional states. These crime-related emotional states were assessed using the mode observation scale. The sample consisted of 175 patients with offence histories.

Findings

Multiple regression analyses indicated that affective features of psychopathy were a negative predictor for feelings of vulnerability in the events leading up to the crime but not predictive of loneliness. The interpersonal features were predictive of deceit during criminal behaviour.

Practical implications

This study leads to a better, more nuanced and substantiated understanding of which emotional states play a prominent role in criminal behaviour and how these states are affected by psychopathic traits. This knowledge can influence existing treatment programmes for patients with offence histories.

Originality/value

Several studies have examined the relationship between emotional states and criminal behaviour and between psychopathy and emotions, but less is known about the predictive relationship between psychopathy features and crime-scene-related emotional states.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the board of directors of forensic psychiatric centre De Rooyse Wissel for permission for this study to be conducted.Disclosure and funding: The authors have no known conflict of interest to disclose and received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation

Keulen-de Vos, M., Herzog-Evans, M. and Benbouriche, M. (2024), "The relation between psychopathy factors and emotional states prior and during criminal behaviour in a Dutch sample", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 78-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-05-2023-0030

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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