A comparison of a self-report measure of psychopathy with the psychopathy checklist-revised in a UK sample of offenders

Psychopathy is an extremely important construct in both forensic psychology and psychiatry. Recently, there have been attempts to produce self-report questionnaires of psychopathic traits. We examined the relationship between such a self-report measure of psychopathy [(Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R), Lilienfeld, S.O., Widows, M.R. (2005). Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.] and an assessment of psychopathy by a third party using the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised (PCL-R; R.D. Hare, 2003. Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) 2nd Edition. Toronto: ON: Multi-Health Systems.). A strong relationship (r=.54) was found between the two measures of psychopathy in a sample of male offenders. However, the factors underpinning the PPI-R and the factors underpinning the PCL-R did not show any obvious correspondence. It is suggested that the PCL-R and the PPI-R measure different conceptualisations of psychopathy and that one cannot be used as a substitute for the other.