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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 6/2011

01-06-2011 | Original Paper

The impact of psychopathy on violence among the household population of Great Britain

Authors: Jeremy Coid, Min Yang

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 6/2011

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Abstract

Background

The public health impact of psychopathy on violence has not previously been measured in the general population.

Methods

Psychopathy was measured using the Psychopathy Checklist:Screening Version (PCL:SV) in adults 16–74 years (n = 638) in households in England, Scotland and Wales in a two-phase survey which included self-reported measures of violence.

Results

Participants with PCL:SV scores 11 or above demonstrated a prevalence of 2.1% (95% CI 1.2, 3.8) but accounted for 18.7% of violent incidents, a population-attributable risk of 16.6%, and demonstrated an exponential rise in reported violent incidents. Psychopathic traits correlated with victim injury, multiple victim subtypes and locations.

Conclusions

Psychopathy makes a substantial impact on violence among the general population despite a low prevalence. Explanations of this association include interpersonal difficulties due to psychopathic traits, fearlessness, thrill seeking, and antisocial lifestyle, but not impulsivity independent of antisocial lifestyle.
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Metadata
Title
The impact of psychopathy on violence among the household population of Great Britain
Authors
Jeremy Coid
Min Yang
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 6/2011
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0212-4

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