The moderating role of psychopathic traits in the relationship between period of confinement and criminal social identity in a sample of juvenile prisoners

Article history: Received 11 September 2015 Received in revised form 9 November 2015 Accepted 13 November 2015 Available online 28 December 2015 Purpose: The main aim of the current study was to examine how primary psychopathymay interact with period of confinement to predict Criminal Social Identity (CSI) scores, while controlling for covariates. Methods: The Measure of Criminal Social Identity, Levenson Self-report Psychopathy Scale, and the Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates were administered to 126 male juvenile offenders incarcerated in prisons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Results: Results indicated no significant direct relationship between period of confinement and CSI scores. However, as expected, a significant moderating effect of primary psychopathy on the association between period of confinement andCSI scoreswas observedwhile controlling for covariates. Specifically, the significant effect of period of confinement on CSIwas observed only for those participantswho scored higher (1 SD above themean) on primary psychopathy (affective and interpersonal features). Conclusion: For incarcerated juveniles with greater primary psychopathic traits, the formation and/or intensification of CSI may be an adaptive response to incarceration. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.