OF FEMALE OFFENDERS

The reliability and validity of the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL–R) was examined in a sample of 528 nonpsychotic female offenders participating in a study assessing the generalizability of the instrument to females using personality, attitudinal, and laboratory behav-ioral measures. Results showed good interrater reliability and adequate internal consistency. Correlations with a number of self-report validity measures and previous criminal behavior pro-vide support for the convergent validity of the instrument. A lack of association with general psychopathology provides support for the discriminant validity of the instrument. However, sig-nificant correlations with anxiety, negative affectivity, and intelligence run counter to expecta-tions and to findings with male offenders. Furthermore, the low base rate of psychopathy in this sample, relative to base rates among male prisoners, raises the concern that either psychopathy is less prevalent in females than in males or the PCL–R is not adequately assessing the construct in female offenders. Psychopathic individuals are characterized by inadequately moti-vated antisocial behaviors, a lack of emotional connection with others, and an incapacity for guilt and remorse (Cleckley, 1976). Their callous behaviors exact a considerable psychological, emotional, an