Construct Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) Concept Map: Getting Closer to the Core of Psychopathy

The diagnosis of psychopathic personality disorder has salience for forensic clinical practice. It influences decisions regarding risk, treatability and sentencing, indeed, in certain jurisdictions it serves as an aggravating factor that increases the likelihood of a capital sentence. The concatenation of symptom that is associated with modern conceptions of the disorder can be discerned in early writings, including the book of Psalms. Despite its forensic clinical importance and historical pedigree the concept remains elusive and controverted. In this paper I describe an attempt to map the concept of psychopathic personality disorder—the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP). I outline the processes used to create the concept map; I summarise evidence in support of the content validity of the map and describe different operations designed to operationalise the construct. It is only when conceptual clarity is achieved that valid operations and measures can be created. I end with a plea for more carefully considered application of statistical methods; applications that better fit the theoretical questions being posed.

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Construct Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP): Examining the Internal Structure and Generalizability of CAPP Self-Ratings Across Gender and Ethnicity

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191120922621 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107319112092262

Author(s):

Katherine B. Hanniball ◽

Richard E. Hohn ◽

Erin K. Fuller ◽

Kevin S. Douglas

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Internal Structure ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Factor Model ◽

Strong Support ◽

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Psychopathic Personality ◽

Diverse Populations ◽

Insight Into ◽

Three Factor

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a recently developed conceptual model of psychopathy designed to index the disorder across 33 personality traits. Although recent research has evidenced support for the CAPP model with respect to the convergent, criterion, and predictive validity of CAPP instruments, little work has examined the optimal internal structure and generalizability of the model and associated measures. The present study sought to elaborate on the construct validity and psychometric properties of the CAPP Lexical Self Rating Scale and determine the utility of the instrument across men and women, and individuals of Caucasian and East Asian descent. Within a large sample of self-identified offenders ( N = 1,414), we found strong support for a three-factor model comprising domains reflecting interpersonal dominance, behavioral disinhibition, and deficient emotional attachment. Analyses examining the generalizability of the model provide further insight into its applicability for diverse populations.

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Supplemental Material for Examining the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure and Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality in Self-Identified Offender Populations

Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment ◽

10.1037/per0000333.supp ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Psychopathic Personality

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Supplemental Material for Developing and Validating a Chinese Version of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality–Self-Report

Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment ◽

10.1037/per0000446.supp ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Chinese Version ◽

Self Report ◽

Psychopathic Personality

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Personality-based assessment of psychopathy: Comparison of the comprehensive assessment of psychopathic personality and the elemental psychopathy assessment.

Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment ◽

10.1037/per0000503 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Claire Liggins ◽

Martin Sellbom

Keyword(s):

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Psychopathic Personality

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Further Validation of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality-Self-Report (CAPP-SR) in Lithuanian Offender and Nonoffender Samples

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191120914403 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107319112091440

Author(s):

Martin Sellbom ◽

Ilona Laurinaitytė ◽

Alfredas Laurinavičius

Keyword(s):

Comprehensive Assessment ◽

Assessment System ◽

Self Report ◽

Psychopathic Personality ◽

Integrative Model ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Assessment Scores ◽

System Risk ◽

Aggression Questionnaire ◽

Offender Assessment

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is an emerging integrative model that makes use of 33 symptoms to characterize psychopathic personality disorder, but operationalizations of this model have not endured extensive validation to date. The current study sought to validate the recently published CAPP-Self-Report (CAPP-SR). Participants derived from two Lithuanian offender ( n = 231) and nonoffender ( n = 312) samples. They were administered the CAPP-SR, Triarchic Psychopathy Measure, Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and a subsample of offenders also had Offender Assessment System risk assessment scores available. The results showed that CAPP-SR total, domain, and symptom scores were associated with TriPM and Aggression Questionnaire scores in a manner consistent with conceptual expectations. CAPP-SR symptoms specifically reflective of aggression, anger, and antagonism were most strongly associated with Offender Assessment System risk scores. The findings provide support for construct validity of CAPP-SR scores as well as have implications for the CAPP model more broadly, which are discussed.

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