The evolutionary roots of psychopathy

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the study of psychopathic traits from an evolutionary framework; however, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews regarding this issue. To address this gap in the literature, the current paper examines the evolutionary roots of psychopathy by reviewing previous research on this topic. Specifically, the potentially adaptive role of psychopathic traits during human evolution through the lifespan is highlighted. Key areas covered include the evolution of the brain ("old brain, new brain" and the emotion-logic lag), emotion regulation, aggression and its potential adaptive function, and emotions specific to psychopathy including anger and shame/dishonor. This paper (mainly in the light of the Adaptive Calibration Model) discusses how psychopathic features can be seen as a useful heritage, especially for people who have grown in harsh psychosocial backgrounds. The implications of an evolutionary approach for the comprehension and treatment of children, youth, and adults with psychopathic traits are suggested, along with directions for future research.

Genetic and Environmental Structure of DSM-IV Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Twin Study

“…Our findings have implications for nosology (Livesley 2005; Kendler 2006), psychometrics (Livesley 2005; Franić et al 2013), molecular genetics (Tielbeek et al 2012; Salvatore et al 2015), developmental psychopathology (Hyde et al 2016; Viding & McCory, 2012), and human behavioral ecology and evolution (Nettle et al 2013; Ribeiro da Silva et al 2015; Del Giudice et al 2011; Colman & Wilson, 1997; Ellis 1988). Our study is relevant to all these research fields in providing evidence that a unidimensional ASPD phenotype exists and permeates the domains of genetic and environmental influences.…”

Dimensionality and measurement invariance of the Other as Shamer Scale across diverse adolescent samples

“…This finding might be related to the fact that detained youth, though possessing a high prevalence of trauma exposure (Abram et al, 2004;Dierkhising et al, 2013;Willis et al, 2013), tend to deal with negative emotions by dissociation (Bennetti-McQuoid et al, 2015), denial (Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2015), or emotional numbing (Kerig & Becker, 2010;Kerig et al, 2012). This fact could difficult the assessment of shame and other negative emotions by self-report measures in this specific population.…”

“…The validation of both measures within externalizing samples of adolescents seems paramount for three reasons: (1) harsh rearing scenarios, including shaming ones, are recognized as important risk factors for the development of disruptive behaviors (Abram et al, 2004;APA, 2013;Brigs et al, 2013;Dierkhising et al, 2013;Willis, Best, & Aalsma, 2013;Kerig & Becker, 2010;Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2015); (2) youth with disruptive behaviors tend to bypass the experience of negative emotions (including shame; Lewis, 1992) by dissociation (Bennett, Modrowski, Kerig, Chaplo, 2015), avoidance/disowning (Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2015), or emotional numbing (Kerig & Becker, 2010;Kerig, Bennett, Thompson, & Becker, 2012); (3) shame is associated with a higher risk of recidivism in antisocial youth via the externalization of blame (Tangney, Stuewig, & Martinez, 2015), by attacking others (Nathanson, 1992;Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2015). Therefore, this work includes two studies, one focusing on the OAS-A and the other centered on the OASB-A.…”

The relation between self-conscious emotions and delinquency: A meta-analysis

“…SELF-CONSCIOUS EMOTIONS AND DELINQUENCY 6 moral behavior, self-conscious emotions often affect antisocial behaviors, including delinquency (Eisenberg, 2000;Gold, Sullivan, & Lewis, 2011;Jackson, 2009;Murphy & Harris, 2007;Ribeiro da Silva, Rijo, & Salekin, 2015;Schalkwijk, 2015;Tangney, Stuewig, & Hafez, 2011;Tibbets, 2003).…”