Preprint Article Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Parental Overprotection and Emotional Abuse Predict the Presence of Psychopathic Traits in Adulthood



Version 2 : Received: 5 October 2017 / Approved: 6 October 2017 / Online: 6 October 2017 (15:23:37 CEST)

Version 1 : Received: 12 October 2016 / Approved: 13 October 2016 / Online: 13 October 2016 (05:25:48 CEST)Version 2 : Received: 5 October 2017 / Approved: 6 October 2017 / Online: 6 October 2017 (15:23:37 CEST)

How to cite: Durand, G.; Bali, P. Parental Overprotection and Emotional Abuse Predict the Presence of Psychopathic Traits in Adulthood. Preprints 2016, 2016100047 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201610.0047.v2). Durand, G.; Bali, P. Parental Overprotection and Emotional Abuse Predict the Presence of Psychopathic Traits in Adulthood. Preprints 2016, 2016100047 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201610.0047.v2). Copy

Cite as: Durand, G.; Bali, P. Parental Overprotection and Emotional Abuse Predict the Presence of Psychopathic Traits in Adulthood. Preprints 2016, 2016100047 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201610.0047.v2). Durand, G.; Bali, P. Parental Overprotection and Emotional Abuse Predict the Presence of Psychopathic Traits in Adulthood. Preprints 2016, 2016100047 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201610.0047.v2). Copy CANCEL COPY CITATION DETAILS

Abstract

Recent findings support an association between childhood maltreatment and the presence of elevated psychopathic traits in adulthood. Using a community sample recruited online (N = 210), we sought to (1) confirm the relationship between childhood traumas and psychopathic traits, and (2) investigate the role of parenting styles in psychopathic traits. Consistent with our predictions, we found an association between all types of childhood traumas and disinhibition. Age and gender moderated the relations between psychopathic traits and childhood maltreatments. Parental rejection and overprotection were positively correlated with the presence of psychopathic traits, while parental emotional warmth was negative correlated. Although our results converge with previous findings, the strength of the correlations observed was not as compelling as in research on undergraduate students. We discuss the numerous interpretations for our findings, and highlight the limitations of research in the field of psychopathy and childhood trauma in the general population.

Subject Areas

psychopathy; Machiavellianism; parental style; gender differences; socialization theories

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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