3.4 Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale
The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP; Levenson et al., 1995)
is a 26-item inventory of psychopathic traits including items capturing
egocentricity, callousness, impulsivity and antisocial behavior. Item
responses are recorded on a four-point Likert scale (1 = strongly
disagree to 4 = strongly agree). Analyses of the psychometric properties
of LSRP items have provided support for both a two-factor and a
three-factor model (Brinkley et al., 2008; Sellbom, 2011). Here we use
the two-factor model in light of equivocal for evidence for the
convergent and discriminant validity of the Callousness factor from the
three-factor model (Salekin et al., 2014). Factor 1 is measured with 16
items that capture the callous/manipulative interpersonal style that
underpins primary psychopathy (Karpman, 1948). Factor 2 measures
secondary psychopathy with 10 items indicating impulse control and
antisocial behavior. The internal consistencies of LSRP total items
(Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82) and Factor 1 items (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.80)
were good. However, the internal consistency of items in Factor 2 was
questionable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.66).11Two items “Love is
overrated.” and “I would be upset if my success came at someone
else’s expense.” were not included in surveys distributed to 43% of
the sample. Therefore, these items were omitted from the estimation of
scale scores.