Shame coping and psychopathy: A replication and extension in a sample of male incarcerated offenders

To extend current knowledge on the role of emotion regulation in psychopathy, present study sought to examine relationships between maladaptive (Attack Self, Attack Others, Avoidance, Withdrawal) and adaptive shame coping styles psychopathic traits (interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, antisocial) incarcerated violent offenders. A sample 266 men for offenses Italian prisons (Mage = 37.42, SD 11.85) completed self-reported measures styles, traits, dysregulation. path analysis was conducted multivariate while controlling levels Externalizing (Avoidance, Others) were positively related across domains. In addition, internalizing negatively interpersonal affective Self) antisocial psychopathy (Withdrawal). Finally, had a negative association with style. Findings highlight that, beyond general problems regulating emotional states, individuals may use strategies cope shame-eliciting situations, which could at same time protect self from painful experience contributing externalizing behavior.