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
Recommended Citation
Steinorth, Courtney, "Psychopathy and Insight Within an Incarcerated Population" (2023). MSU Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 3839.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3839
Open Access
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons