The present study aimed to investigate gender-specific combinations of
implicit and explicit self-esteem, helping to understand psychopathic
traits (lifestyle, affective, and interpersonal) in adolescents at risk
of delinquency. Two hundred thirty-one adolescent boys and girls (from
public schools and child welfare and juvenile justice institutions)
completed questionnaires measuring explicit self-esteem and psychopathic
traits, as well as a computerized Implicit Association Test (IAT)
assessing implicit self-esteem. Boys at risk of delinquent behaviors
with anxious self-esteem (high implicit/low explicit) as well as at-risk
girls with defensive self-esteem (low implicit/high explicit) displayed
the highest scores in interpersonal and lifestyle traits. No
relationship was found between gender-specific combinations of
self-esteem and affective traits. Two gender-specific profiles were
identified among the group at risk of delinquent behaviors: Girls with a
defensive self-esteem (low implicit/high explicit) and boys with an
anxious (or damaged) self-esteem (high implicit/low explicit) presented
more interpersonal and lifestyle traits than other groups.