Abstract
Although psychopathy is a major area of research in psychology and criminology, much remains unknown about its etiological
underpinnings. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the current study explored the association
between neuropsychological deficits and psychopathic personality traits and produced three key findings. First, four neuropsychological
deficits measures were consistently related to the measure of psychopathic personality traits both longitudinally and cross-sectionally.
Second, neuropsychological deficits measures predicted variation in psychopathic personality traits for both males and females
and the magnitude of the association between neuropsychological deficits and psychopathic personality traits did not vary
as a function of gender. Third, parental socialization measures had relatively small and inconsistent effects on psychopathic
personality traits. Suggestions for future research are offered.
underpinnings. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the current study explored the association
between neuropsychological deficits and psychopathic personality traits and produced three key findings. First, four neuropsychological
deficits measures were consistently related to the measure of psychopathic personality traits both longitudinally and cross-sectionally.
Second, neuropsychological deficits measures predicted variation in psychopathic personality traits for both males and females
and the magnitude of the association between neuropsychological deficits and psychopathic personality traits did not vary
as a function of gender. Third, parental socialization measures had relatively small and inconsistent effects on psychopathic
personality traits. Suggestions for future research are offered.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s11126-011-9190-2
- Authors
- Kevin M. Beaver, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, 634 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1127, USA
- Michael G. Vaughn, School of Social Work, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
- Matt DeLisi, Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1070, USA
- J. C. Barnes, School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Brian B. Boutwell, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2296, USA
- Journal Psychiatric Quarterly
- Online ISSN 1573-6709
- Print ISSN 0033-2720