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Purpose This paper aims to evaluate trends in research and clinical practice that may contribute to the limited utility of assessment and treatment modalities designed to capture and address psychopathy. It identifies a lack of consistency between the academic understanding of psychopathy and how the construct is applied in clinical contexts. The authors provide clarity and direction for a more effective application of the psychopathy construct in practical contexts. Design/methodology/approach This review first examines the etiology of important limitations to psychopathy research and practical application, and proposes the adoption of the most recent empirical conceptualization of the construct into practical contexts. It then evaluates the current functionality of psychopathy in practical contexts. The review ultimately proposes a method for designing intervention practices based on the model used in the development of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder, which will improve the practical utility of the construct. Findings The present review provides evidence that a multifaceted and dimensional perspective of psychopathy will improve the practical utility of the construct and help move the field forward. It suggests that considering independent components of the psychopathy construct along a continuous scale, as with DBT, will contribute to improvements in assessments and treatments that target psychopathy. Practical implications The current review applies relevant research to a model for developing an intervention modality particularly in forensic or correctional settings where individuals high in psychopathy are often seen. The implications outlined provide a framework that could impact practice and assessment in forensic contexts moving forward. Originality/value Previous research has not concisely outlined problems concerning the link between psychopathy research and how the construct is applied in practical settings. Few researchers have proposed plausible solutions that could improve the utility of the construct in such settings.

Identifying performance-based assessments of emotion regulation is needed for the study of myriad mood and neurological disorders. Color and form responses on the Rorschach Inkblot Method are valid measures of emotion response control, but have not been studied in relation to known neural correlations of emotion regulation. A discrepancy of color (CF + C) greater than form (FC) responses suggests low cognitive control over emotional responses. This preliminary report explores the discrepancy between form-color responses as a correlate of regional cortical thickness. A sample of community-dwelling adults were administered the Rorschach Inkblot Method and participated in a structural MRI scan. Greater middle frontal cortex thickness was associated with a positive discrepancy score [(CF + C) - FC], indicating less emotion response control (rs = 0.48, p

Abstract. The Rorschach Inkblot test has been adopted and adapted by many researchers to assess and predict different aspects of human experience and cognitive performance. The present review examines research that incorporates the Rorschach to evaluate neural and cognitive aging as well as decline in age-related disease. Specifically, differences in amygdala and cortical regions, as well as mirror neuron and asymmetrical hemisphere activity that correlate with specific responses to Rorschach stimuli are discussed in the context of typical changes in brain structure and function in the course of aging. In addition, the present review provides a proposed framework for expanding the use of the Rorschach to evaluate other domains of neural and cognitive function. The authors conclude that, despite a need for increased research, the Rorschach is a viable measure to evaluate certain aspects of cognitive function and decline throughout the lifespan.

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected healthcare across all levels. Older adults and those with chronic illness are at greatest risk for infection complications and mortality, which presents significant psychological distress for residential healthcare workers. The concept of selfobject needs, consisting of Mirroring, Idealizing, and Twinship, may be relevant in explaining psychological distress. This study seeks to enhance our understanding of the needs of healthcare workers responsible for elderly patients and evaluate the role of psychosocial support through selfobject needs to mitigate the effects of trauma during the pandemic. Participants (N = 103) employed in residential healthcare facilities in the metropolitan Detroit, MI (USA) region completed an online survey during the peak initial infection. Assessments included standardized measures of trauma-related symptoms, depression, anxiety, and general distress symptoms, as well as a validated measure of selfobject needs. Residential healthcare workers reported mental health symptoms across domains, including clinical elevations in symptoms of trauma, depression, and anxiety. Selfobject needs and mental health outcomes were positively correlated, indicating that greater unmet relational need was associated with greater severity of symptoms. Greater trauma symptom severity as a proxy index of current experience during the pandemic predicted high depressive symptoms, and greater Mirroring need worsened the effect. These results suggest that interventions targeting selfobject needs, specifically Mirroring, may be effective at mitigating acute mental health symptoms among healthcare workers during a distressing event.

Chief Payne, of the Grand Rapids, MI Police Department, is interviewed about his position and experiences as an officer, an officer of color, and a chief of police. He discusses the people who influenced his desire and ability to become a police officer. He also discusses the challenges of being a police officer, particularly in society today. He provides important details about how policing is unique in his community and his plans and current initiatives for how to improve policing in the future. Specifically, he describes and discusses the implementation of community policing initiatives and his views about how to better connect police officers with their community members. He discusses several programs designed to make police officers more accessible to the community. Chief Payne also provides insight about his efforts to recruit and retain police officers and how to increase diversity in new recruits. Finally, Chief Payne provides recommendations for researchers about how to approach law enforcement about implementing new initiatives as well as some of the roadblocks they may face.

Chief Sargent, of the Worcester, MA Police Department, is interviewed about his position and perspectives as a chief of police. He discusses his education and the path he took to becoming a chief. Specifically, he discusses working first as a military police officer and his transition into civilian policing. He discusses his advanced training opportunities with the FBI and receiving a degree in criminology. He describes the various positions he has had in law enforcement throughout his career. In addition, he describes changes in policing that have occurred throughout the past decades and how those changes are affecting current policies and initiatives. He further discusses the individuals that work within law enforcement and important characteristics that are essential for those interested in a career in law enforcement. He discusses the implementation of innovative training programs, such as simulators, which aid in preparing officers for different situations. Views about connecting citizens and police and recommendations for researchers are also discussed.

Chief DeGiusti, of the Ypsilanti Police Department, provides his insights about working as a police Chief in Ypsilanti, MI. He discusses aspects of police training and performance enhancement that are currently in place and those that are still needed. Chief DeGiusti also discusses his philosophies of policing and how he works to implement those philosophies within his department. Chief DeGiusti provides a unique perspective about how researchers can contribute to meaningful change in law enforcement.

Chief Kennedy, of the Chula Vista Police Department in California, is interviewed about her experiences as a police chief. She provides her unique perspective about her approach to policing and the path she took to her current position. She discusses educational and training requirements to become an officer in her department and how she works to recruit and retain officers. She describes different officer wellness initiatives and philosophies. She provides information about what it is like to be a female officer as well as a female administrator in law enforcement. Further, the interview includes a discussion of recent technological and innovative initiatives. Specifically, she describes a cutting-edge drone program designed to improve officer safety and effectiveness, which is serving as a model of other departments nationwide. Chief Kennedy also discusses the unique experience of policing near the US-Mexico border.

The practice of mindfulness appears effective in promoting adaptive eating patterns in adolescents and adults. However, despite significant data suggesting that maladaptive eating patterns emerge at a very early age, there is a dearth of research examining the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in promoting healthy eating patterns with young children. Sixty-five children across four school research sites participated in the present experiment to examine whether mindfulness promotes eating enjoyment and diverse eating behaviors in preschool- and early elementary-aged children. Children, ages 3–10 years old, were randomly assigned to a 4-week mindfulness intervention condition or a 4-week exposure, control condition. Each week for 4 days, children received one of four different foods (celery, cauliflower, kidney beans, or garbanzo beans). Children either received instructions to mindfully engage with the food or were given the food and allowed to eat without mindfulness prompts from the researchers. Following each eating exercise, children participants recorded the amount eaten and rated their enjoyment level. Across all sessions and both conditions, group leaders modeled eating behaviors for the children by eating all of the offered food. Results suggested that a brief mindfulness intervention promotes more overall food consumption of typically not preferred and unfamiliar foods (celery, cauliflower, and garbanzo beans) compared with an exposure, control condition. However, food enjoyment ratings did not significantly differ between the two conditions for any of the foods.

Abstract. The present study sought to explore whether musical information is processed by the phonological loop component of the working memory model of immediate memory. Original instantiations of this model primarily focused on the processing of linguistic information. However, the model was less clear about how acoustic information lacking phonological qualities is actively processed. Although previous research has generally supported shared processing of phonological and musical information, these studies were limited as a result of a number of methodological concerns (e.g., the use of simple tones as musical stimuli). In order to further investigate this issue, an auditory interference task was employed. Specifically, participants heard an initial stimulus (musical or linguistic) followed by an intervening stimulus (musical, linguistic, or silence) and were then asked to indicate whether a final test stimulus was the same as or different from the initial stimulus. Results indicated that mismatched interference conditions (i.e., musical – linguistic; linguistic – musical) resulted in greater interference than silence conditions, with matched interference conditions producing the greatest interference. Overall, these results suggest that processing of linguistic and musical information draws on at least some of the same cognitive resources.

Hall and Benning (2006) and Lilienfeld, Watts, and Smith (2015) proposed the differential-severity, differential-configuration, and moderated-expression models as potential frameworks for conceptualizing successful psychopathy . We argue that two of the three proposed frameworks (the differential-severity model and differential-configuration model) suffer from key conceptual challenges that will impede understanding and limit research on the possible links between psychopathy and successful behavior. Instead, we propose an elaboration of the moderated-expression model offers the most potential for advancing understanding of successful psychopathy. This elaboration is accomplished by (a) defining success in a more nuanced manner that encompasses consideration of both avoidance of negative outcomes and attainment of positive outcomes; (b) distinguishing between core psychopathic traits versus moderating traits external to psychopathy; (c) emphasizing the importance of situational context in determining success; and (d) providing a categorization scheme for different classes of potential moderators (structural, environmental, contextual) of the link between psychopathy and success.

The present study sought to explore whether musical information is processed by the phonological loop component of the working memory model of immediate memory. Original instantiations of this model primarily focused on the processing of linguistic information. However, the model was less clear about how acoustic information lacking phonological qualities is actively processed. Although previous research has generally supported shared processing of phonological and musical information, these studies were limited as a result of a number of methodological concerns (e.g., the use of simple tones as musical stimuli). In order to further investigate this issue, an auditory interference task was employed. Specifically, participants heard an initial stimulus (musical or linguistic) followed by an intervening stimulus (musical, linguistic, or silence) and were then asked to indicate whether a final test stimulus was the same as or different from the initial stimulus. Results indicated that mismatched interference conditions (i.e., musical - linguistic; linguistic - musical) resulted in greater interference than silence conditions, with matched interference conditions producing the greatest interference. Overall, these results suggest that processing of linguistic and musical information draws on at least some of the same cognitive resources.