Sex differences between primary and secondary psychopathy, parental bonding, and attachment style.

Abstract

Sex differences in primary and secondary psychopathic traits and behaviors are consistently evidenced, although less is known about the developmental trajectories of these differences and why they might arise. In this study (N ϭ 362) we investigated whether men and women reporting higher levels of primary or secondary psychopathic traits differed in retrospective accounts of how cold and controlling both their mother and father were during childhood, and how anxious and avoidant they are about contemporary relationships. Primary psychopathic traits in men related to controlling mothers and avoidant attachment, whereas in women they related to uncaring fathers and both anxious and avoidant attachment. Secondary psychopathic traits in men were predicted by uncaring mothers and fathers, as well as anxious attachment, whereas in women, neither parental bonding nor attachment style were related. Results are discussed from an evolutionary, life history theory paradigm.

The association between attachment and psychopathic traits

“…Furthermore, the association between attachment and psychopathic traits was also independent of participant characteristics, as this association was similar across gender and age groups. This former finding is in line with the literature (e.g., Blanchard & Lyons, 2016), and the latter finding could be ascribed to the high genetic component of CU traits, and thus a small contribution of environmental exposure to individual differences (e.g., Larsson et al, 2008).…”

“…Additionally, research findings indicate that formation of a more secure attachment, although complicated by the insensitivity of the child, could serve as a protective factor for a child with callous-unemotional traits (Kochanska, 1995;Nakash-Eisikovits, Dutra, & Westen, 2002). Albeit the association between attachment and psychopathic traits in particular turned out to be weak, more investigation in the correlations between psychopathic traits and other constructs concerning parental behavior, such as parental bonding (Blanchard & Lyons, 2016;Craig et al, 2013), positive parenting (Hawes et al, 2011) or parental warmth (Bisby et al, 2017;Kimonis et al, 2013) is highly recommended in general, and more specifically for treatment possibilities, given the devastating effects psychopathic traits can have on both individuals with psychopathic traits themselves, but also their environment.…”

The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Psychopathy, Crime, and Prison Violence in Women

“…There is evidence to suggest that an absentee father, particularly during the first 4 years of childhood, is associated with higher levels of interpersonal psychopathic traits in offspring during adulthood (Riser et al, 2011). An absentee father impacts child-father bonding (Murray & Murray, 2010), which is subsequently linked to higher Factor 1 psychopathy scores (a combined measure of affective and interpersonal facets; Blanchard & Lyons, 2016), and personality traits similar to the interpersonal facet (e.g., entitlement/exploitativeness; Lyons et al, 2013). Our findings are not necessarily specific to paternal incarceration, but may be an extension of the effects of having an absentee father.…”

Country‐level correlates of the Dark Triad traits in 49 countries

“…Evolutionary models predict that more gender equality will be associated with larger sex differences. The limited work on cross-cultural variance in sex differences in the Dark Triad (Neumann, Schmitt, Carter, Embley, & Hare, 2012;Schmitt, Alcalay, et al, 2017) and the Big Five (i.e., Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness) traits (Giolla & Kajonius, 2019) is more consistent with the latter class of theories. In addition, sex differences in prioritizing risk, patience, altruism, positive and negative reciprocity, and trust are larger in societies that are more liberal, are characterized by higher income, and have greater gender equality (Falk & Hermle, 2018).…”