Abstract

The lack of empathy is often described as one of the core characteristics of psychopaths. However, prior studies on cognitive empathy in psychopaths have led to mixed conclusions. This study distinguishes the two factors that constitute the construct of psychopathy; Factor 1 (e.g., emotional callousness, lack of guilt) and Factor 2 (e.g., irresponsible lifestyle, poor behavioral controls). The purpose of this study is to examine the differential relationships among these two factors, empathy and aggression. Self-report questionnaires and two online experiments (i.e., facial affect recognition task, emotional scenario task) were administered to 306 undergraduate students to collect data about psychopathy, cognitive and affective empathy, and aggression. Explanatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of psychopathy as expected. Correlation analysis revealed that both Factor 1 and Factor 2 had negative correlations with self-reported measures of cognitive, affective empathy, and only Factor 1 emerged as a significant predictor of both kinds of empathy. Aggression also showed a stronger positive correlation with Factor 1 than with Factor 2, regardless of subtypes (i.e., instrumental, reactive, relational, and overt aggression). In short, empathy and aggression were better predicted by Factor 1 than by Factor 2. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study and suggestions for future research, are discussed.