Youth with psychopathic characteristics tend to engage in severe and varied problem behaviors with an increased chance of recidivism (Andershed, Gustafson, Kerr, & Stattin, 2002; Gretton, Hare, & Catchpole, 2004; Salekin, 2008). Previous research indicates that youth with psychopathy-linked personality traits are more likely to have an increased focus on achieving reward despite the increasing presence of punishment (O'Brien & Frick, 1996). This study investigated individual perceptions of consequences (e.g., reward and punishment) as a mediator of the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and problem behaviors (i.e., delinquency, aggression) in a sample of 157 adolescents ages 16-19. Findings suggest that perceived rewards for problem behaviors played a mediational role in the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and such behaviors. However, perception of punishment was not related to participation in problem behaviors. Additionally, anxiety and delinquent peer affiliations had a moderating effect on the relation between psychopathy-linked traits and perception of rewards. The implications of the present findings for intervention are discussed.
","abstract_html":"<p>Youth with psychopathic characteristics tend to engage in severe and varied problem behaviors with an increased chance of recidivism (Andershed, Gustafson, Kerr, & Stattin, 2002; Gretton, Hare, & Catchpole, 2004; Salekin, 2008). Previous research indicates that youth with psychopathy-linked personality traits are more likely to have an increased focus on achieving reward despite the increasing presence of punishment (O'Brien & Frick, 1996). This study investigated individual perceptions of consequences (e.g., reward and punishment) as a mediator of the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and problem behaviors (i.e., delinquency, aggression) in a sample of 157 adolescents ages 16-19. Findings suggest that perceived rewards for problem behaviors played a mediational role in the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and such behaviors. However, perception of punishment was not related to participation in problem behaviors. Additionally, anxiety and delinquent peer affiliations had a moderating effect on the relation between psychopathy-linked traits and perception of rewards. The implications of the present findings for intervention are discussed. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Guelker, Matthew David"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Masters Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:45:06Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/478","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Guelker, Matthew David"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-11-12T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/478"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Youth with psychopathic characteristics tend to engage in severe and varied problem behaviors with an increased chance of recidivism (Andershed, Gustafson, Kerr, & Stattin, 2002; Gretton, Hare, & Catchpole, 2004; Salekin, 2008). Previous research indicates that youth with psychopathy-linked personality traits are more likely to have an increased focus on achieving reward despite the increasing presence of punishment (O'Brien & Frick, 1996). This study investigated individual perceptions of consequences (e.g., reward and punishment) as a mediator of the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and problem behaviors (i.e., delinquency, aggression) in a sample of 157 adolescents ages 16-19. Findings suggest that perceived rewards for problem behaviors played a mediational role in the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and such behaviors. However, perception of punishment was not related to participation in problem behaviors. Additionally, anxiety and delinquent peer affiliations had a moderating effect on the relation between psychopathy-linked traits and perception of rewards. The implications of the present findings for intervention are discussed.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Do Adolescents' Perceptions of the Consequences of Their Behavior Mediate the Link Between Psychopathy-Linked Personality Traits and Problem Behavior?"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Guelker, Matthew David"],"dc:date.available":["2018-11-12T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Youth with psychopathic characteristics tend to engage in severe and varied problem behaviors with an increased chance of recidivism (Andershed, Gustafson, Kerr, & Stattin, 2002; Gretton, Hare, & Catchpole, 2004; Salekin, 2008). Previous research indicates that youth with psychopathy-linked personality traits are more likely to have an increased focus on achieving reward despite the increasing presence of punishment (O'Brien & Frick, 1996). This study investigated individual perceptions of consequences (e.g., reward and punishment) as a mediator of the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and problem behaviors (i.e., delinquency, aggression) in a sample of 157 adolescents ages 16-19. Findings suggest that perceived rewards for problem behaviors played a mediational role in the relation between psychopathy-linked personality traits and such behaviors. However, perception of punishment was not related to participation in problem behaviors. Additionally, anxiety and delinquent peer affiliations had a moderating effect on the relation between psychopathy-linked traits and perception of rewards. The implications of the present findings for intervention are discussed.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/478"],"dc:title":["Do Adolescents' Perceptions of the Consequences of Their Behavior Mediate the Link Between Psychopathy-Linked Personality Traits and Problem Behavior?"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:45:06Z"}