Scale Analysis

The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) is a self-report diagnostic tool designed to measure psychopathic traits in individuals. The scale is structured around two main dimensions: Primary and Secondary Psychopathy. Primary Psychopathy is associated with interpersonal and emotional aspects, such as manipulation, lack of empathy, and amoral attitudes, reflecting traits like coldness and indifference to the feelings of others. Secondary Psychopathy relates to behavior and impulsivity, including tendencies toward risk-taking, delinquency, anxiety, and irritability. The scale consists of statements rated on a Likert scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree), allowing respondents to evaluate the extent to which these statements apply to them. The LSRP is widely used in research and clinical settings for the assessment of psychopathic tendencies, offering valuable insights into the understanding and study of psychopathic traits in the population.

Scale Objective

The main purpose of this scale is to provide a reliable and valid measurement of psychopathic traits in individuals through a self-report method. It has been designed to evaluate two dimensions of psychopathy: Primary Psychopathy, focusing on interpersonal and emotional aspects such as lack of empathy and manipulation, and Secondary Psychopathy, which addresses behavioral and impulsive features such as delinquency and risk-taking. Through the LSRP, researchers and practitioners aim to understand and distinguish individual differences in psychopathy, contributing to research and diagnosis in both clinical and non-clinical contexts. Moreover, the scale can be used to detect psychopathic tendencies in the general population and to assess the effectiveness of interventions and treatments aimed at reducing such traits. In this way, the LSRP provides valuable information for studying and understanding psychopathic behaviors and their underlying psychological mechanisms.

Scale Scoring

The LSRP-26 consists of 26 items, which are answered according to the following options:
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree

References

Levenson, M., Kiehl, K., & Fitzpatrick, C. (1995). Assessing psychopathic attributes in a noninstitutionalized population. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 151–158.
Gaughan, J. D., Miller, E. T., & Pryor, L. R. (2008). The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale: An Examination of the Personality Traits and Disorders Associated With the LSRP Factors. Assessment, 15(4), 450–463.
Walters, G., Brinkley, C., Magaletta, P., & Diamond, P. (2008). Taxometric analysis of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale. Journal of Personality Assessment.
Sellbom, M. Elaborating on the construct validity of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale in incarcerated and non-incarcerated samples.