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Miller et al. (2010) previously suggested that borderline pathology, vulnerable narcissism, and Factor 2 psychopathy share a common "Vulnerable Dark Triad" (VDT) core. The present study (N = 1,023 community participants) aims to test that hypothesis using exploratory and confirmatory bifactor analyses. We found support for a bifactor model that obtained satisfactory fits and other adequate validity indices, which included a general VDT factor and three group factors (Reckless, Entitled, Hiding). The general VDT factor was mostly saturated with borderline symptoms items reflecting self‐hatred and worthlessness, which did not form a group factor; these results add to previous research suggesting that features of borderline pathology may represent the core of personality pathology. The three group factors had distinctive relationships with Dark Triad traits, pathological trait domains, and aggression. In contrast with the three group factors, the general VDT factor more strongly incremented the prediction of negative affectivity and hostility; the group factors more strongly incremented the prediction of grandiosity, egocentrism, callousness, Machiavellianism, and direct (physical/verbal) aggression. Alignment of the retained bifactor model with influent models of personality pathology and conceptual/methodological implications of the present results for research on the hypothesized VDT are discussed, as well as some clinical implications of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vachon and Lynam (2016) recently introduced a new measure of empathy, the Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy (ACME). Besides assessing the traditional dimensions of cognitive and affective empathy, the ACME includes an affective dissonance scale that covers "antiempathy," an important feature of the construct with prominent predictive value not included in other empathy measures. The aim of this study is to provide data on the French version of the ACME. A sample of 851 community-dwelling participants (59.4% female) completed online the ACME questionnaire along with other measures of empathy, dark and pathological personality traits, and aggression. The original ACME bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling structure (i.e., the three empathy dimensions of Cognitive, Affective Resonance, and Affective Dissonance with positive and negative wording items as method bifactors) was successfully reproduced with the French version. Furthermore, these scales displayed satisfying internal consistency coefficients, as well as good item properties according to Classical Test Theory. Convergent validity indices were also similar to those reported for the original English version, and scale scores reached full invariance across gender and proved to be partially invariant across language when comparing the present data to those from the original validation study. The French version of the ACME is well aligned with the original English version and offers a valuable alternative to French researchers and clinicians interested in measuring the various dimensions of empathy. Public Significance Statement: This study documents factor structure, language, and gender measurement invariance, reliability, and construct validity of the French adaptation of the Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy (ACME-F). Results demonstrate that the French ACME is well aligned with the original English version and offers French researchers and clinicians a valuable alternative for assessing empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]