Work

Intergenerational transmission of psychopathy and mediation via psychosocial risk factors

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Intergenerational continuities in criminal behaviour have been well documented, but the familial nature of psychopathic personality is less well understood. AIMS: To establish if there is an association between the psychopathic traits of a community sample of men and their offspring and whether psychosocial risk factors mediate this. METHOD: Participants of the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development (n = 478 dyads) were assessed for psychopathy using the PCL: SV. Multilevel regression models were used to investigate intergenerational continuity and mediation models examined indirect effects. RESULTS: The fathers' psychopathy was transmitted to both sons and daughters. The transmission of Factor 1 scores was mediated via the fathers' employment problems. For male offspring, the Factor 2 scores were mediated via the fathers' drug use, accommodation and employment problems. For female offspring, Factor 2 scores were mediated via the fathers' employment problems. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of the specific role of certain psychosocial risk factors may be useful in developing preventive measures for the development of psychopathy.

Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.151050

Authors: Katherine M. Auty, David P. Farrington, Jeremy W. Coid

Institutions: Queen Mary University of London, University of Cambridge, University of London

Language: English

Topic: Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Smith Richardson Foundation, Sid W. Richardson Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust, National Institute for Health and Care Research