Psychopathy and hostile attributions in impulsive and premeditated homicide offenders

The study explored links between psychopathy facets (Disinhibition, Meanness, Boldness) and (a) hostile attributions in relational and physical harm situations (using vignettes and visual scenes), (b) hostile interpretations such as anger recognition in morphed faces, and (c) general preference for anger measured via eye-tracking. Data were collected in two waves from the same sample of homicide offenders (N = 65 in the first wave; 48 of these participated in the second wave). Psychopathy facets were assessed using the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM). Higher disinhibition and meanness were linked to more hostile attributions in ambiguous relational harm scenarios. Also, they predicted greater intentionality attributed to both male and female authority figures, while increased blame was assigned only to female authority figures in physically harmful scenes. Contrary to expectations, higher levels of disinhibition, meanness, and boldness were associated with reduced recognition of anger in ambiguous facial expressions. Meanness was also related to delayed initial fixations on angry faces compared to other emotions and longer gaze durations on male fearful faces compared to female fearful faces. This study advances understanding of the cognitive and emotional aspects of hostility.