Being unwanted and other very early predictors of adult psychopathy

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to present new evidence from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development (CSDD) showing the extent to which obstetric (e.g. abnormal birth weight, confinement at birth, severe abnormality of pregnancy, etc.) and early childhood and family factors (illegitimate child, unwanted conception, family overcrowding, etc.) have predictive effects on psychopathic traits measured later in life at age 48 years. Design/methodology/approach Data collected in the CSDD are analysed. This is a prospective longitudinal study of 411 London men from age 8 to age 61 years. Findings The results suggest that none of the obstetric problems were predictive of adult psychopathy. However, some other early childhood factors were significant. Unwanted conception (by the mother) was significantly associated with high psychopathy. The likelihood of being an unwanted child was higher when the mother was younger (19 years or less), and when the child was illegitimate. The poor health of the mother and living in an overcrowded family were also significant in predicting psychopathy in adulthood, as well as both psychopathic personality (F1) and psychopathic behaviour (F2). Originality/value These findings suggest the influence of very early emotional tensions and problematic social background in predicting psychopathic traits in adulthood (at age 48 years). They also emphasise the importance of investigating further the very early roots of psychopathic traits.

Self-reported antisocial behaviour of 10-year-old boys in Zhuhai (China) versus Pittsburgh (USA)

“…It is, of course, desirable that this type of cross-national comparative research should be replicated, preferably with large representative samples and using the same measuring instruments. It is also important to study risk factors for antisocial behaviour (Farrington and Aguilar-Carceles, 2023; Jackson, 2017; Juni, 2014; McGauran et al , 2019), including very early risk factors (Zara et al , 2023) and biological risk factors (Bergstrom and Farrington, 2018; Farrington and Bergstrom, 2021). Information about differences in risk factors might help to explain differences in prevalence and frequency between Chinese and American children.…”

Why might psychopathy develop? Beyond a protective function: a commentary on Zara et al. (2023)

“…One clear possibility is that theft facilitates access to otherwise unobtainable desirable resources, which can increase survival and/or enhance reproductive opportunities, even if it does come with risks (Kanazawa, 2008). Returning to the topic of psychopathy, and in line with the efforts of Zara et al (2023), it is possible to examine both proximate (e.g. how psychopathy develops) and ultimate (e.g.…”

“…A large body of research informs the processes and mechanisms involved in how psychopathy develops. Many of these studies, including Zara et al (2023), show that environments constituted by adverse childhood experiences seem to be associated with higher levels of psychopathy (Baglivio et al , 2020; Farrington and Bergstrøm, 2021). Many of these findings point to the presence of negative relationships that result in higher rates of abuse and neglect (Boduszek et al , 2019; de Ruiter et al , 2022), whereas other findings suggest social and economic disadvantage including reduced resources and social opportunities (Bégin et al , 2021; Piotrowska et al , 2015).…”

“…To summarize, based on the findings of Zara et al (2023) and others (de Ruiter et al , 2022) that inform how psychopathy develops, poor early relationships seem to predict the development of psychopathy. But the question of why psychopathy develops – examining its possible adaptiveness – given these poor relationships is a different consideration, one that benefits from evolutionary theorizing.…”

“…The article by Zara et al (2023) makes an important empirical contribution of what early life factors may be involved in understanding how psychopathy develops. The child being a result of an unwanted conception, the child born to unmarried parents, the mother’s poor health and family overcrowding were the main factors that were predictive of psychopathy at age 48.…”