Mean,uncommitted,and aggressive: Divergent associations between triarchic psychopathy,elements of love,and caustic relationship behaviors

Abstract

Two studies explored how the triarchic dimensions of psychopathy predicted relationship outcomes in nonclinical samples. In Study 1, using a predominantly student sample (N = 100, 24% men, 76% women), results revealed significant negative associations between meanness and Sternberg’s (1997) components of love (intimacy, passion, and commitment). In Study 2, using a more gender-balanced online community sample (N = 125, 53% men, 47% women), we replicated results from Study 1 and found additional negative associations between self-reported physical aggression, psychological aggression and love in intimate relationships. Further, multivariate analyses revealed that deficits in love explained incremental variance in intimate partner aggression, over and above the triarchic constructs of meanness and disinhibition. Implications for how dimensions of psychopathy manifest in close intimate relationships are discussed.

Keywords

Aggression commitment intimacy love passion psychopathy

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