Citation

Keesler ME, DeMatteo D. J. Forensic Sci. 2017; 62(6): 1522-1533.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Stratton Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13485

PMID

28643444

Abstract

While conceptualization of psychopathy has evolved, so too has the public's relationship with psychology changed. Concurrently, portrayal of psychopaths has made several shifts, both through nonfiction sources and in popular film and television. Psychopathic villains of the mid-20th century have made space for a growing cast of protagonist psychopaths. This study examined whether a relationship existed between exposure to fictional psychopaths and how lay individuals conceptualize psychopathy. Specifically, this study explored conceptualization differences based on exposure to antagonist versus protagonist fictional psychopaths. Surveyed community participants supported earlier research suggesting mixed misunderstanding of psychopathy. Additionally, higher exposure to protagonist psychopaths was associated with higher endorsement of flattering distractor traits, reflecting a kind of romanticized psychopathy. These findings have legal, practical, and ethical implications, including the potential for biased jurors, confounded research about psychopathy's labeling effect, and questions about how psychologists should respond on an individual and systemic level.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

bias; fiction; forensic psychology; forensic science; media; pop-culture; psychopathy