Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Abstract

The MacDonald triad posits that animal cruelty, fire setting, and bed wetting in childhood is indicative of later aggressive and violent behavior in adults. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as a precursor to later antisocial behaviors including serial and sexual murder; while practitioners cite the triad in clinical formulations and risk assessments. However, there is yet to be a critical review and consolidation of the literature that establishes whether there is empirical support. This article explores the validity of the triad. We conducted a narrative review of the relevant studies examining the MacDonald triad and its individual constituents. There is evidence that any one of the triad behaviors could predict future violent offending, but it is very rare to find all three behaviors together as predictors. Thus, the empirical research on the MacDonald triad does not fully substantiate its premise. Rather, it would appear that the triad, or its individual constituents, is better used as an indicator of dysfunctional home environments, or poor coping skills in children. Future research is needed with robust and rigorous methodologies (e.g., adequate control groups, longitudinal designs) to fully establish the MacDonald triad's validity. Finally, further consideration is needed as to whether the triad behaviors are more indicative of other problematic outcomes (e.g., maladaptive coping to life stressors).

Validity of the MacDonald triad as a forensic construct: Links with psychopathology and patterns of aggression in sex offenders

“…While these results may be seen as providing some support for the validity of the triad based on the co‐occurrence of the markers in this group, this is perhaps less applicable to enuresis as more than half of offenders in this class did not show this problem, whether in childhood, adolescence, or beyond. This would appear to be consistent with literature suggesting that the relevance of enuresis to the phenomenon underlying the triad is unclear and remains to be established (Parfitt & Alleyne, 2020; Walters, 2017). Nevertheless, latent structure analysis allows for a clearer picture of the inter‐relations between the markers and the internal coherency of the triad as a construct.…”

“…In this, the results presented in this study provide some support for the link between the two components of the triad who are strongly represented in the second class, namely cruelty to animals and firesetting, and antisocial personality characteristics in rapists. This link has already been suggested by researchers based on earlier studies with other populations (Parfitt & Alleyne, 2020). The presence of such characteristics may pose a challenge for the clinical management of such individuals.…”

“…This approach makes it more difficult to document the evolution of offending over time in terms of specific patterns, which can be related to early developmental indicators. While there is some evidence pointing to the relevance of both cruelty to animals and firesetting to conduct disorder, and possibly adult antisocial behaviour, little support can be found for the predictive validity of enuresis (Parfitt & Alleyne, 2020).…”

A Qualitative Study of Children’s Accounts of Cruelty to Animals: Uncovering the Roles of Trauma, Exposure to Violence, and Attachment

“…Most research on CAC comes from retrospective self-report studies, often with incarcerated adults (Kellert & Felthouse, 1985;Merz-Perez et al, 2001), which has led to CAC being viewed as a predictor of future violence. However, evidence for associated constructs such as the MacDonald triad (Parfitt & Alleyne, 2020) or the graduation hypothesis (Walters, 2013) is inconsistent. Occurrence of CAC can correlate with family violence and domestic abuse, child maltreatment, and neglect (Becker & French, 2004;Bright et al, 2018).…”

Animal Abuse as an Indicator of Domestic Violence: One Health, One Welfare Approach

“…Nonetheless, some studies have also highlighted the lack of association between the so-called McDonald triad with violence. In a study by Parfitt et al [147], the authors stated that the validity of the triad is controversial and cannot always be applied for the prompt recognition and prevention of interpersonal violence since each of the factors can occur on its own and develop antisocial behaviors and because the simultaneous presentation of the three elements is a rare event in children. Similarly, Joubert et al [148] mention the Nonetheless, some studies have also highlighted the lack of association between the so-called McDonald triad with violence.…”