PSYCHOPATHY AS A TAXON - EVIDENCE THAT PSYCHOPATHS ARE A DISCRETE CLASS

Taxometric analyses were applied to the construct of psychopathy (as m easured by the Psychopathy Checklist) and to several variables reflect ing antisocial childhood, adult criminality, and criminal recidivism. Subjects were 653 serious offenders assessed or treated in a maximum-s ecurity institution. Results supported the existence of a taxon underl ying psychopathy. Childhood problem behaviors provided convergent evid ence for the existence of the taxon. Adult criminal history variables were continuously distributed and were insufficient in themselves to d etect the taxon.