PSYCHOPATHY IN DELINQUENT GIRLS: AN EXAMINATION OF FACTOR STRUCTURE DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ana Maria Ugueto, M.A. * * * * The Ohio State University 2005 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Michael Vasey, Advisor Approved by Dr. Steven Beck Dr. John Gibbs _____________________ Advisor Graduate Program in Psychology ABSTRACT The present study investigated the validity of the two-factor model of psychopathy in a juvenile justice sample of adolescents. Previous research conducted by Frick, O’Brien, Wootton, and McBurnett (1994) discovered that Callous and Unemotional (CU) Traits and Impulsive, Conduct Problems (ICP) best represented psychopathy in youth; these factors are correlated (r =0.50). However, this study and a subsequent study (Frick, Bodin, & Barry, 2000) that confirmed the two-factor model have limited generalizability since they were modeled on samples that were largely comprised of Caucasian males. The purpose of the current study is to test the validity of the two-factor model in a sample of Caucasian and African-American, adolescent girls. Forty-eight variables were selected from the Global Risk Assessment Device (Gavazzi, Slade, Buettner, Partridge, Yarcheck, & Andrews, 2003 ) and factor analyzed in an adjudicated sample of boys; a nine-factor model (School Problems, Sexuality, Employment, CU Traits, Parent-Child Conflict, Victimization, Internalizing Symptoms, Narcissism, and Aggression) emerged. An ICP factor was not identified, although a CU traits and a Narcissism factor were retained. The presence of a separate Narcissism factor is consistent with a three-factor model of psychopathy (Frick et al., 2000). The nine-factor structure was replicated in another sample of boys and a sample of girls in the juvenile justice system. No significant differences in model fit were found across sex; the model fit was equivalent in both samples. Behavioral correlates were invariant across sex; sexual promiscuity, aggression, ii and symptoms of anxiety and depression were all positively related to CU traits, as were problems in school, conflicts between children and their parents, histories of victimization, and employment difficulties. Strengths of this study include the large sample of girls (n=736, 42% of total sample) and African-Americans (n=771, 44% of total sample). Limitations include the use of a measure that was not specifically designed to capture psychopathic traits and the limited randomization of the two samples of boys. iii Dedicated to M. and L.B. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Michael Vasey, for his continual support through out graduate school. I greatly appreciate all of his ideas, suggestions, and revisions. I would like to thank Dr. Gavazzi, for so generously allowing me to use his data for this endeavor. I would not have been able to investigate the factor structure of psychopathy without his data. I must thank my fabulous friends: Anya, Backpack, Jay, Colleen, Carp, and Mr. Beercart, who have made graduate school one of the best times of my life. A million thanks to Kristen Carpenter who provided hours of invaluable statistical knowledge, advice, and humor. I also want to thank Robin Gurkin for listening to my ramblings at all hours of the day and night, for dispelling my insecurities, and for believing in even my most unrealistic dreams. I have to thank my marvelous sister, Toni, for being the best sister I could ever have! Her love, understanding, passion, and keen fashion-sense have helped me develop into the person I am. I could not have completed this project with out the unwavering support of my parents. Their love, generosity, and steadfast support have helped me accomplish all of my goals. v VITA December 10, 1976 ..................................Born: Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1999..........................................................Bachelor of Arts in Psychology The University of Texas, Austin 1999-2000 ................................................University Fellow The Ohio State University 2000-2004 ................................................Graduate Teaching Associate The Ohio State University 2004-2005 ................................................Pediatric Psychology Intern Rush University Medical Center, Chicago FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Psychology vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract......................................................................................................................... ii Dedication.................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements........................................................................................................v Vita............................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................x Chapters: 1. Introduction and Review of the Literature.................................................................1 Part I: Prevalence of Antisocial Behavior.....................................................................5 DSM Classification System ...............................................................................6 Antisocial Behavior in Girls ..............................................................................7 Developmental Pathways of Conduct Disorder.................................................8 Part II: The Construct of Psychopathy.........................................................................10 Psychopathy in Women ...................................................................................12 Psychopathy in Children..................................................................................14 Psychopathy in Girls........................................................................................18 Part III: Study Description.............................................................................................21 vii Study Hypotheses............................................................................................21 2. Methodology............................................................................................................23 Participants.......................................................................................................23 Randomization of Sample................................................................................25 Measures ..........................................................................................................25 Procedure .........................................................................................................27 Analytic Strategy .............................................................................................27 3. Results......................................................................................................................32 Descriptive Statistics........................................................................................32 Boys – Sample 1: Exploratory Factor Analysis............................................................................32 Reliabilities ......................................................................................................33 Confirmatory Factor Analysis..........................................................................34 Boys - Sample 2: Confirmatory Factor Analysis..........................................................................34 Reliabilities ......................................................................................................36 Girls: Confirmatory Factor Analysis..........................................................................37 Reliabilities ......................................................................................................39 Comparison of Correlation Strength................................................................39 4. Discussion................................................................................................................40 Study Hypothesis 1 ..........................................................................................40 Study Hypothesis 2 ..........................................................................................42 viii Study Hypothesis 3 ..........................................................................................43 Study Hypothesis 4 ..........................................................................................44 Limitations ......................................................................................................46 Future Directions.............................................................................................48 General Conclusions........................................................................................49 References....................................................................................................................51 ix LIST OF TABLES Tables Page 1 Psychopathy Measures.....................................................................................60 2 Global Risk Assessment Device ......................................................................61 3 75 Items Selected from GRAD........................................................................66 4 27 Variables