Examining hypothesized curvilinear and interactive relations between psychopathic traits and externalizing problems in an offender sample using item response-based analysis
Fearless Dominance (FD) generally manifests null to small relations with externalizing problems, leading some researchers to propose alternative paths by which FD may relate to these problems. The current study provides a test of two possibilities, namely that FD (a) demonstrates curvilinear relations with externalizing problems such that it is associated with these problems only at high levels; and (b) interacts statistically with other features of psychopathy such that FD is associated with externalizing problems at high levels of other psychopathic traits. We used a large correctional sample and item-response theory-related statistics to precisely estimate individuals’ scores at the extremes of each major psychopathic trait. FD traits were not significantly associated with externalizing problems at higher levels of FD traits or in interaction with other psychopathic traits. In those few cases in which FD traits displayed curvilinear relations, they were negatively associated with externalizing problems at higher levels.