Influence of Psychopathic Traits on Desistance Factors From Criminal Behavior During Transition to Adulthood
This study examined the evolution of psychopathic traits from adolescence to adulthood over a 10-year period, focusing on their impact on delinquency. It also assessed whether psychosocial maturation (e.g., temperance, perspective taking) and life turning points (e.g., employment, parenthood) mediated or moderated this relationship. The sample included 165 adolescent offenders. Psychopathic traits decreased over time but remained strongly linked to delinquent behavior at both time points. Neither psychosocial maturation nor turning points mediated or moderated this link. These findings highlight the persistent influence of psychopathic traits on delinquency and suggest the need for multifaceted intervention strategies.
Authors
- Cyril Boonmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2862-884X)
- Marc Schmid (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6634-4442)
- Sébastien Urben (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6462-7636)
- Klaus Schmeck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3114-902X)
- Delfine d’Huart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7343-880X)
- Stéphanie Habersaat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9999-4540)
- David Bürgin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0856-1342)
- Jörg Michael Fegert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6070-4323)
Institutions
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CH)
- Psychiatry Baselland (CH)
- University Hospital Ulm (DE)
- University Psychiatric Hospital (SI)
- Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel (CH)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice
- Published
- 2025-08-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2025.2543549
- Primary Topic
- Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00