Background. Both Moroccan boys and psychopaths are overrepresented in justice institutions. Limited research is available about possible overlap. This study focused on the relationship between...Show moreBackground. Both Moroccan boys and psychopaths are overrepresented in justice institutions. Limited research is available about possible overlap. This study focused on the relationship between implicit and explicit self-esteem and psychopathic traits in Dutch and Moroccan boys adolescents between 12 and 18 years old. Methods. The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used to measure psychopathic traits and explicit self-esteem. Implicit self-esteem was examined by the Implicit Association Task Self-Esteem. Results. Moroccan and Dutch boys didn’t seem to differ in both implicit and explicit self-esteem. Moroccan boys showed higher scores on the affective factor, Dutch boys on the lifestyle factor. Low self-esteem in Moroccan youth caused higher levels of psychopathic traits. Since this relation wasn’t found for the native Dutch boys, the social-defeat model might be a plausible explanation for this outcome. Future research should focus on distinguishing psychopathy in primary traits and secondary traits by fear and anxiety, rather than by the affective and lifestyle factor. Secondary, increasing self-esteem among Moroccan boys is important in order to reduce the chance of developing psychopathic traits caused by social-defeat.Show less
