individual differences (Hancock)

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To investigate whether psychopaths use language differently to non-psychopaths (such that we could detect psychopathy based on how someone speaks)

Question 2

participants

Answer 2

52 male murderers from Canadian prisons who had admitted to their crimes and volunteered to take part in the study.

14 psychopaths
38 non-psychopaths

Question 3

procedure 1

Answer 3

Assessed by a trained prison psychologist using the PCL-R

The cut off for psychopathy was 25 or above (standard cut off for research)

Factor 1 - Interpersonal and affective traits
Factor 2 – Anti-social lifestyle and behavioural problems

Question 4

identifying psychopaths

Answer 4

Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). It was developed by Psychologist Robert Hare.

The PCL-R assesses 20 traits, and for each trait the person is given a score:

Score 0 if it does not apply to you
Score 1 if it somewhat applies
Score 2 if it fully applies to you

Question 5

procedure step 2

Answer 5

Participants asked to describe their homicide offence in as much detail as possible (using the step wise interview procedure).

25 mins – two senior psychology graduates, one research assistant – all blind to psychopathy scores

Question 7

results

Answer 7

Psychopaths (1.82% of their speech) used more subordinating conjunctions

Psychopaths talked more about basic needs (sex, food, shelter) and less about higher level needs

Psychopaths tended to use less pleasant and less intense emotional words,