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Does IQ moderate the relation between psychopathy and juvenile offending?
Ashley S Hampton1, Deborah A G Drabick1, Laurence Steinberg1
1Department of Psychology, Temple University.
Law and Human Behavior
|June 12, 2013
Summary
Intelligence moderates the link between psychopathy and juvenile offending. Youth with higher psychopathy and higher IQ showed the most aggressive and income offending over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Psychopathy and intelligence are known predictors of juvenile offending.
- Previous research shows inconsistent relationships between IQ, psychopathy, and offending behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if intelligence moderates the relationship between psychopathy and offending (income and aggression).
- To examine these relationships concurrently and prospectively over time in serious juvenile offenders.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 1,354 juvenile offenders in the "Pathways to Desistance" project.
- Assessment of intelligence, psychopathy (total, Factor 1, Factor 2), and self-reported offending at baseline, 36, and 84 months.
- Longitudinal analysis to determine moderating effects of IQ on psychopathy-offending links.
Main Results:
- Intelligence significantly moderated the concurrent association between psychopathy (total, Factor 1, Factor 2) and both income and aggressive offending.
- IQ moderated the 36-month prospective link between all psychopathy aspects and income offending.
- Factor 2 psychopathy's association with aggressive offending was moderated by IQ at 84 months.
- The highest offending rates were observed in youth with high psychopathy and high IQ.
Conclusions:
- Intelligence plays a crucial role in understanding the psychopathy-offending relationship in juveniles.
- The interplay between high psychopathy and high intelligence may indicate a specific risk profile for persistent and severe offending.
- Findings highlight the need to consider cognitive abilities when assessing and intervening with psychopathic youth.
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