Self-Esteem and Psychopathic Traits among Undergraduate Students: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Not Applied

Abstract

Aim of this present study was to assess the role of self-esteem in development of psychopathy among undergraduate students. Structural Equation Modelling techniques were used to analyse the model. On measurement level, all fit indices were examined and on structural level, relationships between latent variables were assessed. To explore the model, five latent variables including three factors of psychopathic traits: egocentricity, callous and antisocial traits, and two factors of self-esteem: positive self-esteem and negative self-esteem were identified. Result indicated promising role of negative self-esteem in the development of psychopathy. Results also revealed that positive self-esteem was negatively related with both antisocial traits and egocentricity.Furthermore, negative self-esteem was found as positively related to antisocial traits of psychopathy suggesting that those students who were high on negative self-esteem were involved in antisocial acts. Overall results indicated that positive self-esteem buffer against antisocial and egocentric traits of psychopathy and found as safe guard against developing psychopathic traits whiles negative self-esteem is promising element in the development psychopathic traits among students.

Keywords: Antisocial Traits; Callous, Egocentricity; Negative Self-Esteem; Positive Self-esteem;