One psychopathic route to an unsuccessful life. Psychopathy and life outcomes in Generation 3 of the Cambridge study in delinquent development

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether psychopathic traits are associated with “unsuccessful” life outcomes in a community sample. While it is not easy to define what a successful life is, as it varies by context and developmental stage, there is a consensus in psychological research on what constitutes an unsuccessful life, as measured by the revised Unsuccessful Life Scale. This concept of unsuccessful life encompasses areas such as family and health, alcohol and drug use and work and job satisfaction, which, when compromised, are essential components of an unsuccessful 21st-century life.

Design/methodology/approach

The study continues the work carried out in the prospective longitudinal Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development by including the offspring (n = 551 G3 females and males) of the original 411 G2 males.

Findings

A small proportion of G3 individuals (6.5%, n = 36) were having an unsuccessful life, and 23.3% (n = 124) of them were exhibiting a high level of psychopathic traits as measured by the PCL:SV. The results suggest that some psychopathic traits are an integral part of an unsuccessful mix. For instance, for both males and females, drug use and physical fights were significantly associated with psychopathic traits. However, there were some differences, where a wider range of unsuccessful outcomes was associated with psychopathic traits in males (e.g. unsatisfactory accommodation) compared to females (e.g. unsatisfactory intimate relationships).

Originality/value

It seems that the costs of psychopathic traits outweigh the benefits when it comes to success in life. The implications of these findings are discussed.