Intergenerational transmission of psychopathy and mediation via psychosocial risk factors

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.