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J Abnorm Child Psychol (2013) 41:929938 DOI 10.1007/s10802-013-9736-x
Attachment-Related Mentalization Moderates the Relationship Between Psychopathic Traits and Proactive Aggression in Adolescence
Svenja Taubner & Lars O. White &
Johannes Zimmermann & Peter Fonagy & Tobias Nolte
Published online: 20 March 2013# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Abstract The lack of affective responsiveness to others mental states one of the hallmarks of psychopathy is thought to give rise to increased interpersonal aggression. Recent models of psychopathy highlight deficits in attachment security that may, in turn, impede the development of relating to others in terms of mental states (mentalization). Here, we aimed to assess whether mentalization linked to attachment relationships may serve as a moderator for the relationship between interpersonal aggression and psychopathic traits in an adolescent community sample. Data from 104 males and females with a mean age of 16.4 years were collected on mentalization capacities using the Reflective Functioning Scale on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Psychopathic traits and aggressive behavior were measured via self-report. Deficits in mentalization were significantly associated with both psychopathic traits and proactive aggression. As predicted, mentalization played a moderating role, such that individuals with increased psychopathic tendencies did not display increased proactive aggression when they had higher
mentalizing capacities. Effects of mentalization on reactive aggression were fully accounted for by its shared variance with proactive aggression. Psychopathic traits alone only partially explain aggression in adolescence. Mentalization may serve as a protective factor to prevent the emergence of proactive aggression in spite of psychopathic traits and may provide a crucial target for intervention.
Keywords Mentalization . Aggression . Adolescence . Psychopathy . Reflective functioning
Psychopathy is linked to chronic criminality, lifelong antisocial behaviors and recidivism in adults (Gretton et al. 2004; Leistico et al. 2008; Skeem et al. 2005), and is characterized by shallow affect, egocentricity, lack of remorse, superficial charm, impulsivity, and manipulativeness (Cleckly 1941; Hare 1991). One of the most harmful consequences of psychopathy for society is the predisposition towards excessive interpersonal aggression, especially cold, premeditated aggression as a means to attain ones goals at the expense of others well-being (proactive aggression; Blair et al. 2005) in contrast to reactive aggression that is defined as a defensive strategy against a perceived hostile attack (Card and Little 2006). Of...