879: Kevin Dutton | Are You a Psychopath (And Is That So Terrible)?

Early Behaviors

Identifying early behaviors that hint at psychopathic tendencies in children is a complex task. Kevin Dutton explains that labeling children as psychopaths is avoided, especially in the UK, due to the negative connotations of the term. Instead, terms like "callous and unemotional" are used, although they may not be any less alarming to parents 1. He notes that while there is no definitive test for psychopathy in children or adults, certain behaviors can be indicative. For instance, studies have shown that children as young as twelve months who exhibit less anxiety in response to fear-inducing stimuli may be more likely to develop psychopathic traits later in life 2.

There's no silver bullet test to say, yeah, this kid is a psychopath.

--- Kevin Dutton

Research also highlights differences in brain activity among adolescents with psychopathic tendencies, suggesting early predispositions can be detected 2.

   

Moral Development

Children's moral and empathetic development can signal psychopathic traits, but caution is needed in interpreting these behaviors. Jordan Harbinger shares personal reflections on his own childhood, emphasizing how normal adolescent behaviors can sometimes be misinterpreted as psychopathic 3. Kevin Dutton warns against prematurely labeling children, as their brains are still developing and behaviors like risk-taking and lying are often normal 3.

We got to be really careful that we don't medicalize normal behavior too quickly.

--- Kevin Dutton

He also discusses the evolutionary perspective on psychopathy, suggesting that certain psychopathic traits may have been advantageous in societal roles like leadership and survival, which explains their persistence in the population 4.