Publication:

Male batterers with and without psychopathy: an exploratory study in Spanish prisons

The aim of this study was to analyze the differential profile of male batterers in prison with and without psychopathy. The sample consisted of 162 perpetrators sentenced for a serious offence against their intimate partner. The prevalence of psychopathy or psychopathic traits, established according to the PCL-R, was about 12%. The psychopathic batterers were younger, more impulsive and suspicious, less empathetic and with lower self-esteem than non-psychopathic batterer. However, the psychopathic batterers were not engaged in intimate femicide more often than the non-psychopathic batterers. The severity of the crime was similar in both groups, so it may be attributed to other variables (e.g., substance abuse, intoxication at the time of the offense, violence history, jealousy, etc.). Implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are commented on.