This Research Project is Currently being Undertaken at the Bergen County Family Guidance Center, in New Jersey
Background- Psychopathy
is a construct used to describe adults who engage in antisocial behavior and
also have core interpersonal and affective/emotional deficits. There is reason
to believe that psychopathy is a life-persistent malady that is evident in
childhood and adolescence. As such, research is now looking at psychopathic
traits in juveniles in order to see if, in fact, psychopathy is expressed in
the same way, and if there is possibility for intervention and treatment with
juveniles who are exhibiting these traits.
Population of
Interest- Juveniles aged 11-17 who have come in contact with the juvenile
or criminal justice system.
Project Scope- This
research is looking at the relationship between behaviors and certain
personality traits in juveniles (namely psychopathy). This research is currently
done through the administration of a questionnaire protocol to youth and their
parents and through file review. Current research is underway with the Bergen County, NJ
Division of Family Guidance, their
Research Goals- Validate
the construct of psychopathy in children, (that is, to see if psychopathy
manifests the same in children as it does in adults), to see if psychopathy can
be assessed using similar criteria and measures as are used with adults, to further
examine anxiety and aggression in juveniles with psychopathic-like traits, and examine
the relationship between psychopathic traits and other psychological disorders
such as Conduct Disorder, ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. A better understanding of these variables
will inform research, help clinicians to better understand this disorder, and
possibly identify areas for potential intervention with this type of youth.