The Italian mafia organizations represent a subculture with values, beliefs, and goals that are antithetical to and undermining of the predominant society. The conduct of individual members includes such extreme violence for material gain, it may at least superficially suggest a severe personality disorder. Since the first edition of the DSM and into the 21st century, various terms have been used, sometimes interchangeably, but over time inconsistently, to designate the mentality and practices of mafia members. Only recently has the psychology of mafia members become a focus of serious scientific study. For the first time, investigators for the present study applied instruments, including the PCL-R, to examine for character psychopathology and specifically degrees of psychopathy in male and female mafia members, 20 female and 21 male members. Results showed some gender difference with the women having a higher score on Factor 1, in contrast to men who showed a lower score. Psychopathy and personality disorder were not found to be associated with membership in the mafia for either gender. Some psychopathic traits and gender differences warrant further research. Meanwhile these findings are consistent with a mentality characterized by beliefs and practices determined by a deviant culture rather than psychopathology.

中文翻译：

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传统文化背景和新社会角色之间的黑手党男女

意大利黑手党组织代表了一种亚文化，其价值观、信仰和目标与主流社会背道而驰。个别成员的行为包括这种为了物质利益而采取的极端暴力行为，至少表面上可能表明存在严重的人格障碍。从 DSM 的第一版到 21 世纪，已经使用了各种术语，有时可以互换，但随着时间的推移不一致，来指定黑手党成员的心态和做法。直到最近，黑手党成员的心理才成为严肃科学研究的焦点。本研究的研究人员首次使用包括 PCL-R 在内的工具来检查男性和女性黑手党成员、20 名女性和 21 名男性成员的性格精神病理学，特别是精神病的程度。结果显示，在因素 1 上得分较高的女性与得分较低的男性相比，存在一些性别差异。没有发现精神病和人格障碍与任何性别的黑手党成员有关。一些精神病特征和性别差异值得进一步研究。与此同时，这些发现与一种以由越轨文化而非精神病理学决定的信仰和实践为特征的心态相一致。