Are there racial and ethnic differences in psychopathic personality? A critique of Lynn's (2002) racial and ethnic differences in psychopathic personality
Section snippets
Diagnosis and ratings
At the offset, a distinction must be made between psychopathic personality, now called Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD), and criminal behavior. APD is diagnosed only in those persons whose history of antisocial behavior begins before the age of 15 and persists beyond the age of 18. APD must be distinguished from ordinary criminality by personality traits that apply to all areas of relationships, not just the criminal world. Although criminal history is often used as a surrogate for APD,
Test scores
Lynn interprets several studies to show that Native Americans, Blacks, and Hispanics score higher than Whites on the Psychopathic Deviate (Pd) Scale of the MMPI. Those who know this scale realize that a number of the items ask about antisocial behavior during childhood rather than current behavior. Furthermore it is incorrect to interpret the MMPI based on a single scale in isolation from the profile. Many groups with other kinds of disorders score high on the Pd Scale, but even higher on other
Sensation seeking
Sensation seeking, particularly Disinhibition, or excitement seeking, is among the personality scales showing the highest relationships with psychopathic personality disorder (Blackburn, 1978, Emmons and Webb, 1974, Harpur et al., 1989, Harpur et al., 1994, Thornquist and Zuckerman, 1995). Lynn's review discusses other personality traits but omits this one. Zuckerman (1994) reviewed 10 studies involving comparisons between Blacks and Whites in normal children and adults, college students,
Psychoticism
Like Rushton, Lynn ignores the Eysenck and Eysenck (1976) Psychoticism Scale in his racial comparisons. The Eysencks broad concept of psychoticism includes psychopathy. Delinquents and prisoners are among the highest scoring groups on this scale, scoring higher than actual psychotics. I have suggested that the scale might be more appropriately called Psychopathy rather than psychoticism (Zuckerman, 1989). The scale is the best marker for a factor consisting of low conscientiousness,
Race and ethnicity
Whereas Rushton confines his theory to races, combining diverse populations within the descriptions Mongoloid, Caucasoid, and Negroid, Lynn makes a distinction of ethnic categories, particularly Hispanic, in contrast to race. However, he still regards Whites, Blacks, Asiatics, and Native Americans as pure racial representatives of their respective groups. The 19th century conception of race is not widely accepted among modern anthropologists and ethologists. There is simply too much diversity
Evolution and the r/K hypothesis
Lynn uses the r/K hypothesis propounded by Rushton to explain the purported racial differences in psychopathy. According to Lynn the source of racial differences is climate. He says that the problems of survival in the colder climates of Euroasia, affecting Mongoloids and Caucasoids. led to stronger bonding between males and females with greater commitment by males to provisioning their families, more responsible parenting, enhanced capacity to delay gratification, and stronger control over
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Cited by (19)
Richard Lynn's contributions to personality and intelligence
2012, Personality and Individual DifferencesCitation Excerpt :The paper presented a review of evidence showing that psychopathic personality is highest among blacks and Native Americans, next highest in Hispanics, lower in whites and lowest in Orientals. Skeem, Edens, Sanford, and Colwell (2003) and Zuckerman (2003) have criticised Lynn’s theory and Lynn (2003) has replied to these criticisms. This controversy is appraised by Templer in this issue.
Bibliography of Marvin Zuckerman
2004, On the Psychobiology of Personality: Essays in Honor of Marvin ZuckermanRace and (antisocial) personality
2018, Journal of Criminal JusticeCitation Excerpt :One conclusion to draw from Lynn, 2002) review is that core differences in self-regulation deficits and antisocial personality/psychopathic traits are an important source of variation that likely produce some of the sharp behavioral differences seen among whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians in criminal behavior. On this point and larger issues, there was sharp disagreement with Lynn's work (Skeem, Edens, Sanford, and Colwell, 2003; Zuckerman, 2003; also see, Lynn, 2003). Equivocation is seemingly the best way to characterize the research on race differences in personality functioning, race differences in self-control, and race differences in psychopathy.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychopathic Features Among Juvenile Offenders: Does it Matter Which Traits?
2023, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyCultural Considerations of Psychopathy in the Forensic Context
2020, The Wiley International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law, 2nd Edition: Diagnosis and Treatment: Volume I and IIPsychopathology and the role of culture: An overview
2018, Textbook of Cultural Psychiatry