Child abuse and psychopathy: Interplay, gender differences and biological correlates

Abstract

Child abuse is an important source of mental and physical adverse consequences for victims, their family, and their community. The impact of violence during childhood on the development of the victim is a very sensitive theme. Other than internalizing symptoms, it is interesting to analyze the possibility that a victim may assume the role of persecutor. With this aim, we evaluate Literature and examine the interplay among different types of child abuse (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse) and the development of psychopathy. We consider the role of post-traumatic stress disorder and that of personal environment as potential mediators between abuse and psychopathy. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis on possible differences due to the victim's gender is performed. Finally, analysis focused on genetic variants, such as the polymorphism of 5HTT and MAO-A, or a biological alteration, like the difference in daily cortisol levels that could be related to the development of psychopathy after a trauma.

Keywords: Child abuse; Sexual abuse; Physical abuse; Psychopathy; Neglect; Intergenerational transmission

Core Tip: Childhood trauma and psychopathy are strictly related; emotional abuse, emotional neglect and physical abuse show stronger association with the development of psychopathy. Even if sexual abuse is more frequent in females, most researches did not find a significant correlation between psychopathy and sexual abuse in both genders. Furthermore, trauma is the hallmark of secondary psychopathy causing, in a fragile mind, the uprising of mental illness.