Psychopathic Personality Traits as a Factor in Criminal Behaviour
Abstract
Abstract. The article is devoted to a comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of psychopathic personality traits as a factor in criminal behaviour in the context of contemporary criminological and psychological approaches. The relevance of the study is due to the growing scientific interest in the problem of individual determination of crime, as well as the need for a more differentiated and evidence-based use of psychological constructs in the field of criminal justice. The work substantiates the position that psychopathic traits cannot be considered a direct or universal determinant of criminal behaviour, but in combination with social and situational factors, they significantly increase the risk of forming persistent antisocial and unlawful patterns of behaviour. Within the scope of the study, psychopathic traits are considered as a multidimensional personality construct that includes interpersonal-affective (lack of empathy, superficial feelings of guilt, manipulative behaviour), behavioural (impulsivity, disinhibition, risk-taking) and cognitive-moral components (moral distancing, instrumental attitude towards social norms). It has been shown that it is the interaction of these components that forms psychological mechanisms that reduce the effectiveness of internal self-control and traditional social restraints, in particular fear of punishment and moral prohibitions. This explains the increased likelihood of recidivist, violent or systematic criminal behaviour in individuals with a pronounced psychopathic profile. The article summarises contemporary scientific approaches to interpreting the connection between psychopathic traits and various forms of criminal activity and substantiates the need to abandon simplistic and stigmatising notions of psychopathy. It is emphasised that individual components of the psychopathic construct have different criminological relevance: interpersonal-affective traits are more often associated with instrumental forms of violence and acquisitive crimes, while behavioural components are associated with situational and reactive aggression. This differentiated approach provides a basis for more accurate risk prediction and the development of targeted prevention strategies. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of using the formulated theoretical provisions in criminological analysis, assessment of the risk of reoffending, as well as in improving interdisciplinary interaction between psychology and criminal law. It is concluded that psychopathic traits should be taken into account in scientific and applied models in accordance with the principles of scientific correctness, individualisation and ethical justification, without automatically identifying them with criminality.
Keywords: antisocial orientation; personality deviations; criminogenic risk; individual determination of criminality; lack of empathy; moral neutralization; impulsiveness; violent behaviour; recidivism; psychological mechanisms of unlawful actions.
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References
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