Although fearlessness is not part of the formal definition of psychopathy or DSM IV antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), it is widely recognized that this temperamental attribute is part of these disorders as well as their childhood precursors, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD). Thankfully, not all fearless individuals are sociopaths but it appears that fearlessness is present in varying degrees in everyone with these disorders. (Interestingly some sociopaths do show anxiety. The exact relationship between anxiety and fearlessness is not completely understood.)
Fearlessness is a good trait to study because the trait reflects the function of specific brain regions that are linked to a person’s ability to learn from punishment. The trait is also influenced by genetics. In addition to psychological measures, fearlessness can be assessed using physiological measures. The most universal finding related to fearlessness and genetic risk for sociopathy is that children at risk have low heart rates. Low heart rate has been documented in groups of at-risk children from six different countries and in children as young as 3 years of age.
It appears that the psychological trait of fearlessness has its roots in the physiological trait of “autonomic under-arousal.” This means that the sympathetic nervous system of fearless individuals is under-active at rest and does not readily respond to cues of danger. The sympathetic nervous system is under the control of a part of the brain thought to be abnormal in sociopaths. That is the amygdala-prefrontal cortex circuit.
In a recently published study, Similar autonomic responsivity in boys with conduct disorder and their fathers (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007 Apr;46(4):535-44), researchers from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Rostock University, Rostock, Germany, studied 44 conduct disordered boys and their fathers. They compared them to 36 “healthy controls” and their fathers. The boys were between 8 and 13 years of age.
The researchers examined sympathetic nervous system activity as measured by skin conductance. They also measured personality characteristics in fathers. Fathers of CD boys were “more aggressive, hostile, and impulsive” than the fathers of the non-disordered boys. The researchers showed the fathers and sons pictures that usually elicit emotional responses from people. CD boys and their fathers showed significantly less emotional responses to the pictures. They also had little physiological response to the pictures compared to the control group. “Psychophysiological measurements were highly correlated between fathers and sons.”
The researchers conclude their abstract with this statement: “High father-son correlations in psychophysiological measures raise the question of whether autonomic abnormalities may constitute a biological mediator through which the disposition for antisocial behavior is transmitted within families.” In making this statement, they are not asserting a purely genetic basis for the trait. A father’s behavior toward his son could also influence this trait since these pairs were in contact or lived together.
In my opinion there is overwhelming evidence that low sympathetic activity and accompanying fearlessness are present very early on in developing sociopaths. Furthermore, the caregivers of fearless kids know their kids are fearless usually by age 2. The most important question is, what can we do to help fearless children develop guilt and empathy so that they do not develop CD or ODD?
There are no studies comparing children at risk who have or have not had contact with their sociopathic parent(s). There are, however, many studies that suggest that fearless children require special parenting. Fearless children who do well have an especially warm and loving relationship with at least one caregiver. A warm loving relationship with that caregiver predicts conscience formation in fearless children. Researchers have called this “the alternative pathway” to conscience. Since they do not readily experience guilt, fearless people rely on empathy for conscience. Empathy develops from early affectionate experiences.
Many at-risk children are in triple jeopardy. They have the genes from one antisocial parent, the environmental exposure to that parent AND another parent who has major depression. This depression is usually aggravated by having to deal with the sociopathic partner. Depression in a mother predicts antisocial disorders in children with sociopathic fathers. I believe the reason is that a mother battling untreated depression has a difficult time relating to a child in a way that promotes enthusiasm for loving and the development of empathy.
There are many things that people co-parenting with a sociopath, or raising an at-risk child, cannot control, starting with genetics. Court ordered visitation is a big problem for many kids and co-parents. There is, however, one thing these parents can control, that is their own loving relationship with the child. For more on how to overcome your child’s genetic connection to sociopathy, addiction and ADHD, read Just Like His Father?
actually – BBE – (i still havent read everythng yet so this is off the cuff) I am going to say this kindly,but I am going to say it because it bothers me…
Sociopathy is not a class issue.
I find your comments about this upsetting:( x
Frank Lee, do you even do any research before pontificating, or do you just type out words to see what will generate the most caustic responses? Your remark is very glib, as far as I’m concerned, and I will no longer read any post of yours whether it has validity or not.
Have a nice day.
Blueksies … I find the issue of class an interesting one in regard to sociopathy. Whilst both sociopathy and abuse occur in all sectors of society … there are certain characteristics of poverty ridden areas that may make it easier for it to occur. (I’m thinking mainly of the environmental influences here) And I am not saying this to upset you or anyone else – I grew up in state housing in a sole parent family and from the outside fit the stereotype of someone bound to fail in life. However, I am college educated, have a good career, have not had children early myself and now lead a middle class life – point being Just because you’re born in a pigsty doesn’t make you a pig.
The influences I am thinking of that relate to poverty and not ideal treatment of children are … poor nutrition (good healthy food is expensive and Coke is cheaper than milk) – this can affect both children’s and adult’s cognition and behaviour. Stress is another major factor – poverty causes a lot of stress and stress is known to be related to child abuse … advertisements in my country at the moment focus on encouraging parents to move away from a crying baby and calm down – the catchphrase “Are you strong enough to count to ten?” is used to exemplify the idea that stress contributes to infant shaking (there have been several fatal cases of this in the media recently). The other factor that may contribute to children being treated poorly is lack of parental education … we don’t grow up in families of fourteen now so many adults don’t have experience of how to care for and interact with young children. If they don’t read much then how are those people to gather good information about parenting? Thank goodness for the volunteer parent support groups that exist. There is also evidence (and please don’t ask for the reference as I will have a dreadful time trying to find it!) that the more literate a parent is, the more likely they are to read with their children and value education. I recall reading a few years ago that the single most important factor in children’s school success (controlling for all factors, such as poverty etc) was the level of educational achievement by the MOTHER. Apparently the success of children who have mothers with post graduate education skyrockets when compared with t hose who dropped out of high school.
I don’t know if I agree with these ideas or not, but can certainly see that an adult who values education will aim to pass this love of learning onto their offspring.
I think we’re going to have problems with the children who are growing up today – it seems there are more and more angry children with each passing year. And without blaming working mothers and fathers, I have to wonder about the contribution of high staff turnovers in child care centres (and long hours of attendance) and how these factors may be contributing to sociopathy and other personality disorders in adulthood. I know parents must work and children need care – with the cost of living as high as it is, in most cases it is an absolute necessity. But professional care in a centre is not the same as family care where there is a familal bond and recognition of common genetics – a childcare teacher can leave at any time. And very often they do due to poor working conditions and unbearable stress. In many parts of the world, childcare centres have simply become profit machines where costs are cut in every direction (mostly in staffing ratios meaning staff are left with more children and less workers to work with them) and the wellbeing of children and staff isn’t even considered.
This high staff turnover will have a critical effect on the formation oof early attachments and henceforth the model carried in mind for healthy adult relationships as the child grows up. I have read quite a bit of research that is critical of childcare’s impact on psychological functioning – particularly long hours, large group sizes and not enough teachers to children. Some children spend longer in daycare than their parents do at the office in a working week.
I absolutely DO NOT blame parents for this. I blame the greedy operators who are putting profits before everything. But most of all I blame the government for setting minimum standards of operation that don’t encourage quality and for allowing the profiteers to open chains just like supermarkets. There should be higher standards and a limit on how many childcare centres can be owned by one person or corporation. Children deserve better than to be exploited for a quick buck – it’s their futures that are being gambled with and accordingly the future for all of us.
I’ll be interested to hear thoughts on this … this is just my brain farts 🙂
As a side note I know a father and son similar to what you are discussing above – father is diagnosed as ADHD and is quite forceful, pushy etc. Son stabbled a kid in elementary school and conduct disorder was mooted but then was diagnosed with ADHD … since then has shown in teen years symptoms of full blown sociopathy – stealing, lying, no remorse, no plans, booze, women and sex etc – you know the picture here. Parents have tried everything and are at their wits end. They’re starting to realise (especially mom) that no contact may be the only option in this case.
PS Wonderful article Lianne – you have a way of making the complex easy to understand … why are these fathers not being diagnosed with anything if they have similar characteristics? Why is there almost a universal reluctance to diagnose sociopathy / psychopathy?
polly sweetie, hi!
i was listening to a radio show today about infant mortality in uganda – the single most important factor in determining infant mortality: the mother’s education level.
how are you? pretty bad over here – first slipped disc in neck, now my back is out and my fibro is in a full blown flare. I am finally able to type more (spent weeks with hands in splints) and now i can’t sit for more than a short while without getting nauseous from pain. life is sucking. getting interviews. then i go back to bed until i can get up again. it REALLY sucks. this week i am going to look into disability pension. was supposed to got to a lecture on it last monday – but was in too much pain to get out of bed. arrrgggh. 😉
i am sort of okay though. deeply scared about my body and cognitive decline in the last few months. but some how i am still trying. best to you tootsie.
the other roll.
Franklee,
JUST FYI there is a LOT OF RESEARCH that has been done on psychopathy and there is GOOD EVIDENCE that it is mainly genetic, but not 100% genetic,, that there are environhmental issues with it.
It is pretty well understood that therapy does not cure them but may in some cases dampen down their criminal or anti social behavior.
Children of sociopaths are not “damned” or totally bound to be a psychopath, but they ARE more at risk than others. Just as the tendency to be an alcoholic or drug addict is partly genetic, partly environment and partly CHOICES, so is psychopathic behavior and ways of social interaction.
There is not** A** sociopathic gene, but several genes that contribute to psychopathy, including the production of and receptors for oxytocin, the “bonding” hormone.
For the past x number of years (I’m not even sure how long) I have studied psychopathy and so have others here with professional qualifications, and people who are victims have also studied the disorder, and there is a lot of stuff to study.
If you are genuuinely interested in the causes, I suggest that you go to Bob Hare’s web site and to other areas where there is quite a bit of solid science on psychopathy showing genetic connections. Good luck in your effort to learn.
Onestep:
I’m hoping you find relief……however it comes!!!
Somethings gotta give for you……there are better days ahead.
XXOO
EB
GETTING IT, I saw the post to me (the first few words) on the left, but My Internet connection is back to SQUAT again, so can only get on the threads with few comments.
Glad you like my “gallows humor,” but sheesh when you get to be older’n dirt you just have to find SOMETHING to laugh about! I’m actually enjoying being an old bat! No more white coats and professional demeanor, no more watching I don’t say “Oh SHEET!” at an inappropriate time! No having to worry about my hair, make up, or anything else, just let it all hang out and be ME!!!!
I’ve taken life way to seriously up to now and I’m realizing that the universe was here before I came and will be here long after I’m gone! I’m also NO LONGER responsible for keeping it running. I’ll leave that to God and I’ll just be responsible for my tiny little corner of the world and let him Take the rest! ((((hugs)))
Frank lee Speaking I think you have some good insight. Our parents and enviroment have so much to do with who we are. I am homsexual because of genetic’s. I have been dysfunctional most of my life because of my parent’s and the twisted enviroment I was raised in. I used to be a target for predators..there is a very good book that helped me with personality disorders ‘meaning from madness’ by richard skerritt….I have stopped trying to diagnose everybody , including myself..I just want peace at last…
Oxdrover;
While much focus regarding psychopathy is on prefrontal cortex abnormalities, under-active noradrenaline response and high testosterone levels (in males), I believe you are on to something regarding oxytocin, especially regarding those psychopaths/sociopaths with a history of many short-term relationships. It may also explain the propensity of psychopaths/sociopaths to be less trusting.
Frank Lee,
First I have to say that I often post things on here that go against the grain or popular belief yet I have not had any problems or attacks from other posters here. Why? because unlike your posts I have not intentionally come in with a flame thrower on tring to make forcefull incendiary comments to others. Just because you, me, or someone else believes something doesn’t mean diddly unless there is some proof behind it and it certainly doesn’t give us the right to flame people or try to incite others. That is no way to try and convince people your point is correct.
As for the whole genetics/environment piece, I have posted about the quite a bit previously. In this instance genetics are not destiny. There is an interaction between genes and environmental factors that tweek each other over time and these are dynamic so they change over time and situation.
Most people I read talk about nature or nurture and stick with just those two. Personally I think the 3rd piece is as important as those two but not often discussed in the same vein. That piece is choice.
Choice can often overcome but nature and nurture (in regards to this topic). A person may be “predisposed” genetically to alcoholism but they make a choice not to drink alcohol. A person makes a choice not to treat another person poorly, not to sexually assault, not to strike another person, not to use that drug, etc.
It may not be as easy for some as it may be for others but that still does not mean someone is compelled/forced to do certain things because of genetics. For instance someone may have impulse control issues that make it easier to do certain impulsive things. Yet they can still make a choice to work on improving this in themselves and improve it over time. BUT this often takes a lot of conscious work with success and slip ups along the way and there are a good number of folks who do not want to do this work and prefer the easy way out; the easy excuse or rationalization. This is why just taking a pill to fix something can seem so attractive.
Making serious lifestyle changes can be, and often is, very difficult for many people let alone deep seated personality issues. Humans tend to be quick to judge and slow to change. But we have the ability to overcome these things or at the least improve them by the choices we make.
There is a quote I like that says “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”.