Positive & negative schemas, affect, pers. functioning in psychopathy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Positive and negative cognitive schemas, positive and negative affect and adaptive and maladaptive personality functioning: Are they important in psychopathy?
IRAS ID
250490
Contact name
Michael Lewis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ashworth High Secure Hospital - Merseycare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 28 days
Research summary
Positive and negative cognitive schemas, positive and negative affect and adaptive and maladaptive personality functioning: Are they important in psychopathy?
Psychopathy is typically perceived in exclusively negative terms, leading to stigmatisation of those diagnosed with this condition. While the presence of negative characteristics of cognition, affect and personality functioning has been firmly established in psychopathy, it is of importance to also explore the more positive or adaptive characteristics psychopathy may be linked to. As well as investigating negative characteristics, this study will address the existence of positive cognitive schemas, positive affect and adaptive personality functioning in psychopathy. If these are found to be important in psychopathy, this knowledge could lead to a more balanced view of the condition and to a more positive approach to its assessment, management and treatment.
The study will recruit two samples: the clinical sample will consist of male patients recruited in multiple wards at Ashworth High Secure Hospital, UK. The community sample will comprise males and females recruited online. All participants will be asked to complete a set of self-report questionnaire measures. The completion of the questionnaires is estimated to take approximately 35 minutes per participant. The total duration of the study, including the preparation of measures, recruitment of participants, collecting, coding and analysing the data and writing up the final report (Master thesis) will be 10 months.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0781
Date of REC Opinion
27 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion