Abnormal Findings Revealed in Female Criminal Psychopaths Using the Sorting Test

Abstract

This study was the first of its kind to utilize Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test (D-KEFS; Delis, Kaplan, & Kramer, 2001) to investigate whether a relationship exists between executive function performance and psychopathy in female offenders on parole. It was hypothesized that female psychopaths (n = 28) would demonstrate worse performance on the Sorting Test, than nonpsycho-paths (n = 26). Fifty-four adult females between 20 and 50 years of age were recruited from California Department of Corrections and divided into two groups, based on their scores on the Psychopathy Checklist-Screening Version (PCL-SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995). Results revealed the two groups differed significantly (p ≤ .001), indicating that female psychopaths appear to show a dysfunction in concept formation, in transfer of concepts into action, and initiation of problem-solving behavior.

Key Words:

• Sorting test
• psychopath
• female criminal
• forensic neuro-psychology
• neuropsychological testing