Abstract
Child maltreatment is a known risk factor for criminal behavior, however, only a few studies have addressed the relationship between child maltreatment and the development of psychopathic traits. Meanwhile, the effect of adverse childhood experiences on prosocial behavior is practically unknown. The current research aims to explore the relationship between child maltreatment, psychopathic traits and altruistic attitudes among young adults. Six hundred and seventy-three young adults from the community filled out the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire, the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory - Short Version and the Altruistic Attitudes Scale. Results suggest that child maltreatment is related to both psychopathic traits and inhibition of altruistic altitudes. Each adverse childhood experience appears to be associated with the development of specific forms of psychopathic traits and/or altruistic attitudes. Early identification of maltreatment is essential for prevention of antisocial behavior and for the promotion of altruistic attitudes. Research, political and social recommendations are suggested.
Highlights
Child maltreatment is a known risk factor for criminal behavior, only a few studies have addressed the relationship between child maltreatment and the development of psychopathic traits
Results were organized into two phases; in the first phase, correlations between child maltreatment experiences, psychopathic traits and altruistic attitudes were analyzed
Child abuse and neglect were tested as predictors of psychopathic traits and altruistic attitudes during early adulthood, after controlling other forms of maltreatment and potentially confounding variables
Summary
Child maltreatment is a known risk factor for criminal behavior, only a few studies have addressed the relationship between child maltreatment and the development of psychopathic traits. According to Cicchetti and Toth (2005) Developmental Psychopathology Theory, certain life events—especially traumatic ones—might disrupt a healthy development, resulting in Psychopathic traits are absolutely crucial to an in-depth understanding of antisocial behavior. Psychopathy refers to a constellation of affective (e.g., emotional callousness), interpersonal (e.g., Journ Child Adol Trauma grandiosity; manipulation), and behavioral (e.g., irresponsibility; impulsivity) traits, present in a wide range of antisocial behaviors (DeLisi 2009; Van Baardewijk et al 2010) These traits highly predict criminal behavior and are related to child and juvenile development. Given that empirical studies have shown adverse childhood experiences to increase the risk of developing an antisocial course of life, does it inhibit prosocial behavior? As far as we know, this hypothesis has not been tested
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