The exploration of subclinical psychopathic subtypes and their relationship with types of aggression in female college students

The current study used model-based cluster analysis of psychopathy factors, behavioral inhibition, behavioral activation, and anxiety to identify theory-driven subtypes in female college students. Two psychopathic-like subtypes emerged. The Primary-Traits group demonstrated, elevated Factor 1 scores, and depressed behavioral inhibition and anxiety. The Secondary-Traits group demonstrated high Factor 2 scores, anxiety, and hostile aggression but unexpected behavioral activation levels. No between-groups differences were observed on reported instrumental and reactive aggression. Subtype results are comparable to male samples, but indicate a need to reconsider theories of behavioral activation and the instrumental/hostile aggression dichotomy in women. Furthermore, hostile aggression attitudes were high in the Secondary-Traits and Anxious/Aggressive groups, highlighting the potential importance of anxiety and psychopathy in the prediction of risk in women.