| This work examines the construct of psychopathy in female offenders as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised, 2nd Edition (PCL-R). Using a grounded theory approach to analyzing the PCL-R and an additional second semi-structured interview, this study explored the etiology of criminal behavior in 18 female offenders who obtained scores in the Low, Moderate, and High ranges on the PCL-R. Analysis of the interviews suggested gender-based differences in both the prevalence and meaning of historical characteristics considered when using the PCL-R. Various affective and interpersonal characteristics seem to differ from what is known about male offenders when examining the PCL-R items in women. Analysis of the interviews also revealed that a woman's level of attachment to her children may be important in understanding her level of psychopathy. This study suggests that the construct of psychopathy, as measured by the PCL-R, appears differently in women and that further research is needed to better understand how the construct of psychopathy appears in female offenders.; Keywords. Psychopathy, female offenders, PCL-R, promiscuity, gender roles, feminist, risk assessment... |
