Date of Graduation

Spring 2023

Degree

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Paul Deal

Abstract

The clinical construct of psychopathy has been researched extensively relative to incarceration. Cognitive insight has shown to be related to prognosis and treatment outcomes with severe psychopathologies. There has been, however, limited research on both psychopathy and cognitive insight in relation to incarceration. The purpose of the present study was to examine the moderation of cognitive insight levels on rates of incarceration (the number of times someone has been incarcerated in a government detention facility) based on their level of self-reported psychopathic traits. A brief demographic questionnaire, the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, and the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale were administered to and collected from 34 current inmates at a local county jail. The results were analyzed by conducting a multiple linear regression via JASP Statistical software. The results suggest that cognitive insight does not significantly moderate the relationship between psychopathy and rates of incarceration. With these findings, further research is recommended to garner a deeper understanding of which factors impact psychopathy and rates of incarceration.

Keywords

psychopathy, incarceration, cognitive insight, adult, jail, psychopathic traits, detention

Subject Categories

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Other Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychological Phenomena and Processes

Copyright

© Courtney Steinorth

Download

Open Access

Share

COinS