Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version

For copyright reasons the Psychopathy Checklist Youth Version (PCL: YV) Forth, Kosson, & Hare, 2003) cannot be reproduced here. However, a summary of the instrument is provided below

The PCL: YV (Forth, et al., 2003) consists of 20 items assessed using collateral review and a structured interview format. The items are listed below:

1. Impression management
2. Grandiose sense of self worth
3. Stimulation seeking
4. Pathological lying
5. Manipulation for personal gain
6. Lack of remorse
7. Shallow affect
8. Callous/lack of empathy
9. Parasitic orientation
10. Poor anger control
11. Impersonal sexual behavior
12. Early behavior problems
13. Lacks goals
14. Impulsivity
15. Irresponsibility
16. Failure to accept responsibility
17. Unstable interpersonal relationships
18. Serious criminal behavior
19. Serious violations of conditional release
20. Criminal versatility

The items are of a standard format with the assessor asked to rate the participant on the strength of credible evidence for or against the items using a three point ordinal scale (0, 1, 2) with total, and four factor scores produced. Factor 1 is items 1, 2, 4, 5; Factor 2 items 3, 14, 15, 9, 13; Factor 3 items, 6, 7, 8, 16, and Factor 4 items, 10, 12, 18, 19, 20. The score range is 0-40.

The manual states that the PCL: YV total score should be interpreted as a dimensional measure of how much an individual possesses traits and behaviours associated with high risk of serious criminal behaviour.

Specimen item scoring description:

Item 2: Grandiose sense of self worth.

“This item describes youth with a grossly inflated view of their abilities and self worth. They present with an attitude of superiority and may impress as braggarts. They often appear domineering, opinionated, grandiose, and arrogant. He/she has an exaggerated regard for his/her own abilities and, consequently, display little embarrassment about any current problems or concern for the future. He/she tends to attribute any educational, family, or legal problems to external factors rather than themselves.”