Do early environmental factors influence the relationship between psychopathy and crime: Longitudinal findings from the transitions in Amsterdam study

Abstract

The current study sought to elucidate differences between individuals high in psychopathy who engage in criminal behavior versus those who refrain from such behavior. In doing so, we examined the potentially moderating role of environmental factors in the relationship between psychopathy and criminality including parental absence, parental monitoring, parental relationship quality, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), socioeconomic status (SES), and neighborhood disorder. In a large (N = 1200), longitudinal sample, latent regression models were estimated to examine the role of potential moderators, Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale scores (LSRP; both facet-level and total scores), and their interaction in the prediction of future criminality while controlling for baseline delinquency. Overall, SES emerged as the most robust protective factor with respect to psychopathy. However, preliminary support was also found for the potentially moderating role of parental absence, parental monitoring and ACEs in the relationship between psychopathy (particularly the Egocentricity facet and LSRP total score) and criminality.