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Citation |
Stupperich A, Strack M. J. Forensic Sci. 2016; 61(3): 699-705. |
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Affiliation |
Georg-Elias-Mueller-Institute of Psychology, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Gosslerstr. 47, 37073, Goettingen, Germany. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2016, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
27122409 |
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Abstract |
In an attempt to explain the relationship between psychopathy and severe violent behavior, this study associates previous animal abuse, psychopathy, and sadistic acting in forensic patients. Two topics are addressed: (i) whether previous animal abuse can be identified by a patient's Psychopathy Checklist profile and (ii) whether animal abuse statistically mediates between psychopathy and sadistic acting. In a German forensic hospital, 60 patients were investigated. Animal abuse was assessed using face-to-face interviews and the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV), and sadistic acting was identified by file records.Discriminant analysis separated previous animal abuse (10/60) by high adolescent antisocial behavior, superficiality, lack of remorse, lack of empathy, and grandiosity. The mediation from psychopathy to sadistic acting (6/60) through animal abuse was found to be complete.The results, although sample size is limited and base rate of animal abuse and sadistic acting are low, fit with a model suggestive of animal abuse as a causal step toward sadistic crimes. Animal abuse correlates with callous, unemotional traits, and a development of sadistic crimes. Language: en |