The global impact of adverse childhood experiences on criminal behavior: A cross-continental study

This research consists of two studies that aimed primarily on identifying the links between adverse childhood experiences, the level of self-control, the „dark” personality traits, and also their relationship with criminal behavior. In the first study we aimed to establish a relationship between all the variables. A sample of 232 psychology students participated in the research. They reported that they experienced a number of emotional adverse events in their childhood, and these events were positively associated with low levels of self-control and dark personality traits. The second study aimed to replicate the results obtained in the first study. Furthermore, we want to see the differences related to these variables between inmates and psychology students. In this study participated 87 inmates and 87 psychology students. The results showed that inmates predominantly experienced adverse childhood events of a physical nature, while students predominantly experienced adverse emotional events. It has been shown that psychopathy has been positively associated with offending behavior and the high frequency of adverse childhood events. The low level of self-control has been positively associated with adverse childhood events and negative personality traits. Further studies are needed in order to establish students' sensitivity thresholds in relation to adverse childhood events and to clarify the impact these events have had on students.

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The role of adverse childhood experiences, self control and Dark Triad in the development of criminal behaviour. Correlative and differential aspects

10.47040/sd0000055 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 18-37

Author(s):

Bogdan-Ioan Merlușcă ◽

Alina Chiracu

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Criminal Behavior ◽

Psychology Students ◽

Dark Triad ◽

Self Control ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood Events ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

The Impact

This research consists of two studies that aimed primarily on identifying the links between adverse childhood experiences, the level of self-control, the „dark” personality traits, and also their relationship with criminal behavior. In the first study we aimed to establish a relationship between all the variables. A sample of 232 psychology students participated in the research. They reported that they experienced a number of emotional adverse events in their childhood, and these events were positively associated with low levels of self-control and dark personality traits. The second study aimed to replicate the results obtained in the first study. Furthermore, we want to see the differences related to these variables between inmates and psychology students. In this study participated 87 inmates and 87 psychology students. The results showed that inmates predominantly experienced adverse childhood events of a physical nature, while students predominantly experienced adverse emotional events. It has been shown that psychopathy has been positively associated with offending behavior and the high frequency of adverse childhood events. The low level of self-control has been positively associated with adverse childhood events and negative personality traits. Further studies are needed in order to establish students' sensitivity thresholds in relation to adverse childhood events and to clarify the impact these events have had on students.

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Criminal History and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Relation to Recidivism and Social Functioning in Multi-problem Young Adults

Criminal Justice and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0093854820975455 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 009385482097545

Author(s):

Laura Van Duin ◽

Michiel De Vries Robbé ◽

Reshmi Marhe ◽

Floor Bevaart ◽

Josjan Zijlmans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Criminal Behavior ◽

Strong Predictor ◽

Criminal History ◽

Self Report ◽

Criminal Records ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood

This study examines the relationship between criminal history and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how they collectively predict (a) recidivism and (b) positive social functioning among multi-problem young adults. Criminal records and self-report data regarding ACEs and adult education/employment and quality of life (QoL) were collected for 692 multiproblem young adults (18–27 years). Results indicated that an extensive criminal history was related to non-violent and violent recidivism and lack of involvement in education/employment in young adulthood. On the contrary, a higher number of ACEs was related to lower QoL later in life, while this was not associated with recidivism or education/employment. These findings highlight again that past criminal behavior is a strong predictor of future criminality, particularly within this group of young adults with multiple problems. Furthermore, experiencing negative events in childhood shows to have long-term negative effects on QoL even for these individuals who already experience multiple life problems. Implications are discussed.

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Are Adverse Childhood Experiences Associated With Deficits in Self-Control? A Test Among Two Independent Samples of Youth

Criminal Justice and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0093854819879741 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 166-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ryan C. Meldrum ◽

Brae Campion Young ◽

Sadhika Soor ◽

Carter Hay ◽

Jennifer E. Copp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Criminal Behavior ◽

Large Body ◽

Self Control ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Household Dysfunction ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Behavior Outcomes ◽

And Behavior Outcomes ◽

And Behavior

A large body of research links both a lack of self-control and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to a variety of negative health and behavior outcomes, including delinquent and criminal behavior. To date, relatively little research considers whether experiencing a greater variety of ACEs is associated with lower self-control. We advance this area of research by first articulating potential mechanisms through which ACEs may impact self-control. We then investigate whether experiencing more ACEs is inversely associated with self-control in separate samples of youth from Michigan and Florida. For both samples, results indicate that experiencing a greater variety of ACEs is negatively associated with self-control. Exploratory analyses also indicate that ACEs reflecting interpersonal maltreatment are more strongly associated with deficits in self-control than ACEs pertaining to aspects of household dysfunction.

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Are the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Violent Recidivism Offense-Specific?

Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice ◽

10.1177/1541204020939638 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 27-44

Author(s):

Jessica M. Craig ◽

Haley R. Zettler

Keyword(s):

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Criminal Behavior ◽

Southern State ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Minority Males ◽

Sexual Offenses ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Violent Recidivism ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Racial Ethnic

A growing body of literature has found that exposure to child maltreatment and other forms of family dysfunction, often conceptualized as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), are associated with delinquent and criminal behavior. Recent research has indicated that the effects of ACEs on offending may differ not only by offense type but also by sex and race/ethnicity. However, no study to-date has investigated the effects of ACEs on violent-specific recidivism, nor how these effects differ by sex- and racial/ethnic-specific subgroups. The current study seeks to address this gap by examining a large, diverse sample of serious delinquents institutionalized in a large southern state. The results indicated that while ACEs increased the likelihood of being rearrested for any violent felony, the effects were particularly strong for domestic violence and sexual offenses among white females and minority males. A discussion of these findings are presented, along with the limitations of the study.

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