Psychopathy and violent behaviour in abused and neglected young adults

Abstract

The interrelationships among early childhood victimisation, psychopathy and violence were examined in a sample of previously abused and neglected individuals (n = 652) and a matched control group (n = 489). Measures of psychopathy, assessed utilising Hare's Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R), and violence (based on official arrest and self-report information) were included in a series of multivariate analyses. Victims of childhood abuse and/or neglect had significantly higher PCL-R scores than persons in a matched control group, despite controls for demographic characteristics and criminal history. PCL-R scores predicted official and self-reported violence. Childhood victimisation was a significant predictor of violence; however, when PCL-R scores were introduced, childhood victimisation was no longer significant. Findings demonstrate a clear connection between early childhood victimisation and psychopathy and suggest that the relationship between childhood victimisation and violence in some individuals may be mediated through psychopathy. A number of potential mechanisms are suggested to explain these linkages. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.