An Analysis of Monoamine-Related Genotypes and Childhood Trauma in Relation to Psychopathic Traits in Men and Women. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fox, Bryanna; Bozzay, Melanie; Verona, Edelyn
• Other Names: Portnoy Jill guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Crime and delinquency. Volume 66:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1438
• Page End: 1469
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: biopsychosocial criminology -- childhood trauma -- epigenetics -- genotypes -- psychopathy; Crime -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile delinquency -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0011128720937295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-1287

Abstract

Psychopathy is of great interest to criminologists, given its consistent association with violence, offending, and antisocial behavior. However, the etiology of psychopathy, particularly in terms of a gene × environment (G×E) interaction, has had little examination in the literature. One study has examined the direct and interactive effects of two genotypes (MAOA, 5-HTT) and childhood trauma on psychopathic traits using a high-risk forensic sample of adult males, and identified G×E interactions that may help us understand this complex phenotype. However, given the difficulties replicating G×E research, particularly with antisocial phenotypes, this study conducts a replication and expansion of prior research by examining direct and interactive effects of three genotypes (MAOA, 5-HTT, DRD4) and childhood trauma on psychopathy using a high-risk community sample of males and females. Results only partially support prior findings, illustrating the need for additional replication research in the biopsychosocial and epigenetic arenas.