Citation

Wright JP, Boisvert D, Vaske J. Youth Violence Juv. Justice 2009; 7(3): 208-222.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1541204009333827

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Using data from the Cincinnati Lead Study, this study examines the effects of postnatal blood lead concentrations in early childhood (78 months) on adult psychopathy and six subscales of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory. Results reveal that higher blood lead concentrations in early childhood are associated with higher levels of psychopathic symptoms in adulthood, controlling for the effects of gender, race, mother's IQ, child's intellectual achievement, and the quality of the home environment. Childhood lead levels predicted variation in Machiavellian Egocentricity, Social Potency, Impulsive Nonconformity, and Blame Externalization. Overall, these results implicate lead exposure in the etiology of psychopathy.