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Psychopathic Personality Traits and Delinquent and Risky Sexual Behaviors in Croatian Sample of Non-referred Boys and Girls

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Law and Human Behavior

Abstract

The current study investigated the association of psychopathic traits with violent and non-violent delinquency, delinquency versatility, and risky sexual behavior in Croatian sample of non-referred boys (n = 226) and girls (n = 480). Psychopathic traits were measured by the self-report Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI). Consistent with the study’s hypotheses, Impulsive-Irresponsible and Callous-Unemotional dimensions were most consistently associated with all outcome measures. Results of the regression analyses showed that the Impulsive-Irresponsible behavioral style had stronger association with non-violent delinquency and delinquency versatility for boys. However, the Impulsive-Irresponsible dimension had stronger influence on risky sexual behavior for girls compared with boys. The results of a two-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three-factor model of the YPI was invariant across gender.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports and is a part of the research project “Children, youth, family and social development in Croatia-Djeca, mladi, obitelj i socijalni razvoj Hrvatske” (066-0661686-1431).

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  1. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Osijek, L. Jäger 9 (Filozofski fakultet u Osijeku, Studij psihologije, L. Jägera 9), 31000, Osijek, Croatia

    Silvija Ručević

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Correspondence to Silvija Ručević.

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Ručević, S. Psychopathic Personality Traits and Delinquent and Risky Sexual Behaviors in Croatian Sample of Non-referred Boys and Girls. Law Hum Behav 34, 379–391 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10979-009-9196-6

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