This article investigates mechanisms of moral disengagement and psychopathy in offender detainees (sex offenders and non-sex offenders). In particular, this article investigates whether, in all offenders, moral disengagement and psychopathy are correlated, if there are any differences between sex offenders and non-sex offenders as to psychopathy, and if there are any differences between rapists and child molesters in regard to their levels of psychopathy. The results indicate that, in all offenders, levels of moral disengagement are associated with levels of psychopathy, while sex offenders are more selfish, more insensitive and less remorseful than non-sex offenders. It is also found that rapists display more antisocial behaviour problematic elements in their lifestyle than child molesters. As well as increasing the dedicated literature, studying the mechanisms and characteristics of offenders - and of sex offenders in particular - may be of considerable importance for the promotion of effective and targeted treatment strategies.

Moral Disengagement and Psychopathy: A Study on Offenders in Italian Jails / Petruccelli, I.; Barbaranelli, C.; Costantino, V.; Gherardini, A.; Grilli, S.; Craparo, G.; D'Urso, G.. - In: PSYCHIATRY PSYCHOLOGY AND LAW. - ISSN 1321-8719. - 24:5(2017), pp. 1-12. [10.1080/13218719.2017.1291291]

Moral Disengagement and Psychopathy: A Study on Offenders in Italian Jails

D'Urso, G.
2017-01-01

Abstract

This article investigates mechanisms of moral disengagement and psychopathy in offender detainees (sex offenders and non-sex offenders). In particular, this article investigates whether, in all offenders, moral disengagement and psychopathy are correlated, if there are any differences between sex offenders and non-sex offenders as to psychopathy, and if there are any differences between rapists and child molesters in regard to their levels of psychopathy. The results indicate that, in all offenders, levels of moral disengagement are associated with levels of psychopathy, while sex offenders are more selfish, more insensitive and less remorseful than non-sex offenders. It is also found that rapists display more antisocial behaviour problematic elements in their lifestyle than child molesters. As well as increasing the dedicated literature, studying the mechanisms and characteristics of offenders - and of sex offenders in particular - may be of considerable importance for the promotion of effective and targeted treatment strategies.
2017
moral disengagement
psychopathy
sex offenders
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12318/148726
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