Date of Award

January 2015

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dustin B. Wygant

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Second Advisor

Robert G. Brubaker

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Third Advisor

Melinda M. Moore

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Abstract

Most of what we know about Psychopathic Personality Disorder (PPD) is based upon research with males. Considerably less research has examined female manifestations of the construct, however, some research suggests that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) may represent a female phenotypic expression of PPD, particularly among incarcerated offenders. The current study examined distinction and convergence between PPD and BPD. Utilizing a sample of 146 female correctional inmates as well as 109 female college students, the current study employed the Computerized Adaptive Test of Personality Disorder (CAT-PD) as well as other specific indices to explore the extent to which these two personality disorders overlap from a dimensional trait perspective, which the CAT-PD provides. Steiger’s T-tests were calculated to determine whether there was a difference in the magnitude of the correlations between CAT-PD traits and these two personality disorders. Hierarchical linear regression analysis were also conducted to determine whether additional traits could augment the prediction of these two personality disorders beyond the selected traits in the DSM-5 alternative trait model, located in Section III of the DSM-5. Implications of these results in light of explaining the overlap between BPD and PPD among females are explained.

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