To Örebro University

There has been a longstanding interest in relationships between autonomic activity during fear conditioning paradigms and antisocial behavior and psychopathy. A considerable body of work has explored electrodermal and cardiovascular responses both in anticipation of, and in response to, fear conditioning paradigms in antisocial participants (Hare 1965; Hare & Quinn, 1976). However, there is a lack of work exploring these associations in adolescent populations, and how these associations may relate to the triarchic model of psychopathy (Patrick, Fowles, & Krueger, 2009). The current study examined relationships between skin conductance responses (SCRs) and heart rate reactivity (HRR) to a countdown task at ages 9– 10, and the triarchic psychopathy traits at ages 9– 10, 14– 15, and 19– 20 in a longitudinal sample (N = 695) of twins from the Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB; Baker et al., 2013) project. Children and adolescents high in boldness, both rated by themselves and their parents, demonstrated reduced skin conductance both in anticipation of and in reaction to the loud blast. Similar patterns were also demonstrated for heart rate (HR); children and adolescents high in boldness had less HR change during the countdown, and reduced HRR to the blast itself. Implications of these findings for our understanding of the role of boldness in autonomic reactivity to fear conditioning paradigms will be discussed.

Purpose: Resting heart rate (RHR) is a well-established biological risk factor for criminal behavior. However, potential moderating effects of social risk factors like socioeconomic status on this relationship remain unclear. The current study sought to clarify the moderating impact of socioeconomic status on the relation between low RHR in childhood and adolescence and subsequent legal system involvement by young adulthood.

Methods: A subset of twins and triplets from the Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB) project (N = 347) were utilized to test hypotheses. Logistic regression analyses were performed to test for a moderating effect of socioeconomic status on the relationship between RHR and later law enforcement involvement (trouble with police, arrest).

Results: Resting HR and SES were individually associated with an increased likelihood of being in trouble with the police and being arrested. In addition, RHR and SES in adolescence interacted to predict trouble with the police and arrest history by young adulthood, such that low RHR predicted these outcomes among adolescents who remained in low SES backgrounds.

Conclusions: Adolescents who remain in low socioeconomic backgrounds from childhood will be a particularly important group to target in terms of treatment efforts to prevent criminal behavior.

The triarchic model was advanced as an integrative, trait-based framework for investigating psychopathy using different assessment methods and across developmental periods. Recent research has shown that the triarchic traits of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition can be operationalized effectively in youth, but longitudinal research is needed to realize the model's potential to advance developmental understanding of psychopathy. We report on the creation and validation of scale measures of the triarchic traits using questionnaire items available in the University of Southern California Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB) project, a large-scale longitudinal study of the development of antisocial behavior that includes measures from multiple modalities (self-report, informant rating, clinical-diagnostic, task-behavioral, physiological). Using a construct-rating and psychometric refinement approach, we developed triarchic scales that showed acceptable reliability, expected intercorrelations, and good temporal stability. The scales showed theory-consistent relations with external criteria including measures of psychopathy, internalizing/externalizing psychopathology, antisocial behavior, and substance use. Findings demonstrate the viability of measuring triarchic traits in the RFAB sample, extend the known nomological network of these traits into the developmental realm, and provide a foundation for follow-up studies examining the etiology of psychopathic traits and their relations with multimodal measures of cognitive-affective function and proneness to clinical problems.

Low resting heart rate (HR) is a known risk indicator for the development of antisocial behavior (ASB) and other clinical problems. Stimulation seeking and fearlessness have been explored as factors underlying the HR/ASB relationship, but these have often been conflated, which has complicated interpretation. We examined HR's associations with ASB and other outcomes in terms of biobehavioral traits described by the triarchic model of psychopathy using data (N = 710) from a longitudinal study of ASB risk. Low resting HR in childhood was related to adult ASB, and covariance between ASB and traits of disinhibition and boldness largely accounted for this association. In addition, low childhood HR was related to greater externalizing problems and fewer internalizing problems in adulthood; disinhibition accounted for the former association, and boldness accounted for the latter. Findings indicate a role for both disinhibition and boldness in associations between early HR and later clinical outcomes and have implications for theory and practice.

There has been a longstanding interest in autonomic activity in relation to criminal deviancy, antisocial behavior (ASB), and psychopathy. Among the autonomic measures studied to date, considerable evidence supports low rest-ing heart rate (HR) early in life as one of the most robust predictors of later ASB (Farrington, 1997). Some studies have examined stimulation seeking and fearlessness as possible trait factors accounting for the low HR/ASB rela-tionship (Hammerton et al., 2017; Portnoy et al., 2014; Sijstema et al., 2010), but the individual difference basis of this relationship remains unclear. The current study tested for associations of resting HR at ages 9–10 with triarchic psychopathy traits of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition along with ASB later in life (ages 19–20) among participants (N = 687) from a longitudinal investigation, the Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB; Baker et al., 2013) project. Resting HR was negatively associated with both violent and nonviolent behavior, and with externalizing problems more broadly. It was also related negatively to triarchic traits of boldness and disinhibition, with the relationship somewhat stronger for boldness. Importantly, boldness and disinhibition each accounted for significant variance in associations of low resting HR with particular types of ASB. Implications of these findings for our understanding of the nature and bases of the low HR–antisocial behavior relationship will be discussed.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with myriad adverse outcomes, including interpersonal difficulties, but factors that moderate the developmental course and functional impact of ADHD over time are not well understood. The present study evaluated developmental contributions of the triarchic neurobehavioral traits (boldness, meanness, and disinhibition) to ADHD symptomatology and its subdimensions from adolescence to young adulthood. Participants were twins and triplets assessed at ages 14, 17, and 19 (initial N = 1,185, 51.2% female). Path analyses using negative binomial regression revealed that boldness at age 14 was associated with more ADHD symptoms cross-sectionally (especially hyperactivity/impulsivity), but fewer symptoms (especially inattention) at age 19 in the prospective analysis. Notably, inclusion of interpersonal problems at ages 14 and 17 as covariates reduced the latter effect to nonsignificant. Disinhibition concurrently and prospectively predicted higher levels of ADHD symptoms, including both subdimensions, and the prospective effects were partially mediated by greater social impairment at age 17. Meanness prospectively (but not concurrently) predicted higher levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Sex moderated certain associations of meanness and disinhibition with ADHD symptoms. These findings highlight how fundamental neurobehavioral traits shape both psychopathology and adaptive outcomes in the developmental course of ADHD.

The knowledge of same-sex intimate partner violence (IPV) is limited. This study aims to investigate the perception of seriousness of same-sex IPV. A vignette study was undertaken among 248 police students (69% males and 31% females) in Sweden. The vignettes portrayed an intimate partner relationship between two people and were available in four versions with the sex of the offender and victim being alternated. Perceptions of IPV were measured using the Opinions of Domestic Violence Scale (Ahmed et al., 2013). The results showed that regardless of gender, IPV was considered serious; however, same-sex IPV was perceived as less serious than victimization of a heterosexual female but more serious than victimization of a heterosexual male. Police interventions were found to be less needed for same-sex victims than for heterosexual female victims.

Biological risk factors for crime have been largely neglected within main-stream criminology. However, a large body of research has over the past few decades converged on the conclusion that it is important to consider biological risk factors for crime, as they may help to inform theory and etiology. We are gaining more knowledge about the biological underpinnings of crime in a rapidly evolving research field, but many questions remain to be answered.

The overarching goal with the present dissertation was to expand the knowledge about biological risk factors, including adverse perinatal events and psychophysiology, for crime. Specifically, Study I aimed to examine the associations between adverse perinatal events and offspring crime in men and women respectively. Study II aimed to examine associations for resting heart rate and systolic blood pressure with reoffending in men. Study III aimed to examine associations for resting heart rate with crime in women. Lastly, Study IV aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the relationship between psychopathic personality and aversive startle potentiation. These aims were pursued through three studies utilizing Swedish population-based registers (Study I, Study II, and Study III), as well as one systematic review (Study IV).

Taken together, the overall findings of the present dissertation suggest that biological risk factors are important for crime in various ways. Biological risk factors represent an important step forward to broaden our understanding of crime and may have the potential to inform theory and etiology as well as to ultimately improve prediction, prevention, and intervention strategies.

BACKGROUND: Lower autonomic arousal is a well-known correlate of criminal offending and other risk-taking behaviors in men, but few studies have investigated this association in women.

AIM: To test associations between autonomic arousal and criminal offending as well as unintentional injuries among female conscripts.

METHODS: All women born 1958-1994 in Sweden who participated in voluntary military conscription (n = 12,499) were identified by linking Swedish population-based registers. Predictors were resting heart rate (RHR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Covariates were height, weight, and physical energy capacity. Main outcomes were criminal convictions (any, violent, and non-violent) from the National Crime Register. Secondary outcome was unintentional injuries requiring medical treatment or causing death. We used survival analyses to test for associations between predictors and outcomes.

RESULTS: Low RHR, relative to high RHR, was associated with an increased risk of any criminal conviction, non-violent criminal convictions, and unintentional injuries. Low SBP, relative to high SBP, was associated with an increased risk of violent criminal convictions.

CONCLUSIONS: Results support lower autonomic arousal, particularly lower RHR, as a correlate of criminal offending among women that warrants further examination, as the reported findings have potential implications for the prediction of future female crime.

Lower resting heart rate and lower levels of empathy have independently been associated with an increased risk of antisocial behavior. However, little is known about the potential interaction between resting heart rate and empathy in predicting antisocial behavior. The aim of the current project was to examine the moderating role of empathy in young adulthood on the association between resting heart rate in childhood and antisocial behavior in young adulthood. We utilized two subsamples from the University of Southern California Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior Project (n=707, n=616), a longitudinal project with data from five waves. Resting heart rate was measured using disposable electrodes attached to the torso. Empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index with four subscales. Antisocial behavior was defined as law enforcement involvement. After adjusting for potential confounds, results suggest that lower resting heart rate in childhood and lower empathy in young adulthood predict antisocial behavior in young adulthood. Most importantly, empathy in young adulthood moderated the association between resting heart rate in childhood and antisocial behavior in young adulthood. Results indicate that at lower levels of empathy, a lower resting heart rate was associated with increased probability of being in trouble with the police.

Biopsychosocial criminological theories suggest that it is important to consider interactions between risk factors from different domains in the prediction of externalizing behavior. Lower resting heart rate is considered the best replicated biological risk factor for externalizing behavior. The psychological construct of empathy has also shown to be predictive of such behavior, but little is known about the potential interaction between these two different risk factors in predicting externalizing behavior. We examined the moderating role of empathy on the association between resting heart rate in childhood and adolescence with externalizing behavior by young adulthood using two subsets of participants from the Longitudinal Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior project: Subsample 1 (n = 697) at ages 9–10 and 19–20 years and Subsample 2 (n = 394) at ages 14–15 and 19–20 years. Linear and logistic regressions showed that empathy moderated the association between resting heart rate in adolescence and externalizing behavior by young adulthood. Among individuals with low but not high levels of empathy, increased resting heart rate predicted lower levels of externalizing behavior. Interventions enhancing empathic skills in individuals with psychophysiological risk profiles could be beneficial.

Background: We examined associations of adverse perinatal events with offspring violent and non-violent criminal convictions in men and women.

Methods: All singleton births between 1973 and 1995 (n =1,146,570 men, n =1,085,217 women) were identified through Swedish population-based registers. Information about adverse perinatal events was retrieved from the Medical Birth Register. Outcomes were criminal convictions collected from the National Crime Register. We estimated absolute and relative risks of being convicted of criminal convictions using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival analyses for men and women separately. We also tested for differences in magnitudes of associations for men versus women.

Results: Several adverse perinatal events were associated with an increased risk of violent and non-violent criminal convictions in both men and women. Associations between low birth weight, smallness relative to gestational age and preterm birth with non-violent criminal convictions were statistically significantly higher for men than for women. There was a dose-dependent association between adverse perinatal events with violent and non-violent criminal convictions for both men and women, indicated by the strengthened magnitude of HR estimates with exposure to an increasing number of adverse perinatal events.

Conclusions: Adverse perinatal events are associated with violent and non-violent criminal convictions in men and women, with some differences in risk estimates between sexes. Findings are compatible with theoretical accounts implicating disruption of the neurodevelopment during the perinatal period.

Background: We examined associations of adverse perinatal events with offspring violent and non-violent criminal convictions in men and women.

Methods: All singleton births between 1973 and 1995 (n = 1,146,570 men, n = 1,085,217 women) were identified through Swedish population-based registers. Information about adverse perinatal events was retrieved from the Medical Birth Register. Outcomes were criminal convictions collected from the National Crime Register. We estimated absolute and relative risks of being convicted of criminal convictions using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival analyses for men and women separately. We also tested for differences in magnitudes of associations for men versus women.

Results: Several adverse perinatal events were associated with an increased risk of violent and non–violent criminal convictions in both men and women. Associations between low birth weight, small nessrelative to gestational age and preterm birth with non–violent criminal convictions were statistically significantly higher for men than for women. There was a dose–dependent association between adverse perinatal events with violent and non–violent criminal convictions for both men and women, indicated by the strengthened magnitude of HR estimates with exposure to an increasing number of adverse perinatal events.

Conclusions: Adverse perinatal events are associated with violent and non-violent criminal convictions in men and women, with some differences in risk estimates between sexes. Findings are compatible with theoretical accounts implicating disruption of the neurodevelopment during the perinatal period.

BACKGROUND: Low resting heart rate (RHR) and low systolic blood pressure (SBP) are associated with criminal behavior. However, knowledge is lacking about their predictive value for reoffending.

AIM: We aimed to examine associations of RHR and SBP with reoffending in a large population-based sample.

METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of all convicted male conscripts born in Sweden 1958-1990 (N = 407,533). We obtained data by linking Swedish population-based registers. Predictor variables were RHR and SBP, measured at conscription which was mandatory until 2010 for men at age 18. The outcome variable was reoffending, defined as criminal convictions (any crime, violent crime and non-violent crime), obtained from the National Crime Register. We used survival analyses to test for associations of RHR and SBP with reoffending, adjusting for pertinent covariates such as socioeconomic status, height, weight and physical energy capacity.

RESULTS: In fully adjusted Cox regression models, men with lower RHR (≤60 bpm) had higher risk of reoffending (any crime: HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.19, violent crime: HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.29, non-violent crime: HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.19), compared to men with higher RHR (≥ 82 bpm). Men with lower SBP (≤80 mmHg) had higher risk of reoffending (any crime: HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.21, violent crime: HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.20, non-violent crime: HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.22), compared to men with higher SBP (≥138 mmHg).

CONCLUSIONS: Low autonomic arousal is associated with increased risk of reoffending. RHR and SBP should be investigated further as potential predictors for reoffending as they each may have predictive value in risk assessment protocols.

Low resting heart rate (HR) is a well-replicated correlate of antisocial behavior. Previous findings have suggested that low resting HR is associated with criminal offending, psychopathy, conduct problems and aggression. More recent work has also indicated that low systolic blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of criminal offending. However, little is known about the predictive value of low autonomic arousal for reoffending. Thus, the present study examined associations of resting HR and systolic blood pressure with reoffending. We used Swedish population-based registers to conduct a cohort study of all male conscripts born between 1958 and 1990 who had been convicted of a crime (N=407,533). Resting HR and systolic blood pressure was measured at the conscription assessment. Criminal convictions were obtained from the National Crime Register. We used survival analyses to test for associations between resting HR and systolic blood pressure with reoffending while covarying for socioeconomic status, height, weight, physical energy capacity and birth year. A lower resting HR was associated with an increased risk of reoffending for violent and nonviolent crime compared to a higher resting HR. Lower systolic blood pressure was also associated with an increased risk of reoffending for violent and nonviolent crime compared to a higher systolic blood pressure. Low autonomic arousal should be further investigated as a predictor for reoffending as it may help to improve identification of individuals at risk for repeated criminal justice involvement.

Disruptive behavior disorders (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], oppositional defiant disorder [ODD], conduct disorder [CD]) affect 5–10 % of youth and represent the primary reason for youth referrals to clinicians (APA, 2013). DSM-V includes callous-unemotional (CU) traits (specifier ‘with prosocial emotions’) to CD (APA, 2013; Frick et al., 2014). Research suggests an association between CU traits and ADHD symptoms (Graziano et al., 2016; Babinski, et al., 2017; Haas et al., 2018). The genetic and environmental overlap between CU traits and ADHD symptoms were examined in a sample of 1,189 five year-old children using teacher-ratings, the PrEschool Twin Study in Sweden (PETSS). The correlations between CU traits and hyperactivity/impulsivity, and between CU traits and inattention were rp = .53, p<.05 and .44, p<.05, respectively. For CU traits, genetic factors accounted for 25%, p<.05 of the variance, the shared environment accounted for 48%, p<.05, and the non-shared environment for 27%, p<.05. For hyperactivity/impulsivity, genetic factors accounted for 85%, p<.05 of the variance and the non-shared environment accounted for 15%, p<.05. For inattention, genetic factors accounted for 43%, p<.05 of the variance, the shared environment accounted for 38%, p<.05, and the non-shared environment for 19%, p<.05. For CU traits and hyperactivity/impulsivity, rg = .58 (.36, .88), rc = .84 (.46, 1.00), re = .24 (.10, .37). For CU traits and inattention, rg = .33 (.00, .61), rc = .63 (.43, .82), re = .30 (.17, .43). These findings indicate that CU traits and ADHD symptoms partly share a common genetic and environmental etiology.  

The startle reflex has been suggested to operate as a psychophysiological marker of psychopathic personality, based on findings from studies using a range of different methodologies and participant samples. The present review aims at synthesizing existing evidence of the relationship between psychopathy and the startle reflex across task paradigms, psychopathic personality subtypes and subdimensions, participant samples (i.e., incarcerated/ clinical or non-offenders), and age groups using the triarchic model of psychopathy as a frame of reference. Systematic literature searches were conducted up until the 24th of March 2020 in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. A total of 2311 potential studies were identified, out of which 40 met relevancy and quality criteria. Results indicate that reduced aversive startle potentiation is associated with psychopathic personality in general, but clusters of traits relating to the triarchic model constructs of boldness and meanness in particular. Available evidence suggest that startle paradigms could be meaningful for differentiating individuals with and without psychopathic personality. Findings support suggestions of psychopathic personality as a multifaceted, rather than a unitary construct. Reduced aversive startle potentiation has also been found in relation to psychopathic features in child-aged samples but work of this kind is limited and more research is needed. Future studies should focus on greater consistency in task paradigms and analytic strategies to enhance the capacity to compare and integrate findings across studies.

The association between lower resting heart rate and antisocial behavior has been suggested to be mediated by sensation-seeking. However, other theoretical models suggest that sensation-seeking has a moderating influence. This study sought to investigate the interplay between resting heart rate, sensation-seeking and antisocial behavior. Two subsets of participants from the Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB) project (n = 690, n = 391) were used. We conducted mediation analyses and logistic regression analyses to test for mediating and moderating effects of sensation-seeking on the association between resting heart rate and antisocial behavior by young adulthood. In general, sensation-seeking partially mediated the association between resting heart rate in childhood as well as adolescence and antisocial behavior by young adulthood. Resting heart rate in childhood and adolescence also interacted with sensation-seeking to predict antisocial behavior by young adulthood, such that a lower resting heart rate increased the odds of antisocial behavior among individuals with higher but not lower levels of sensation-seeking. Our results on a theoretical level suggest that sensation-seeking is important to understand the association between resting heart rate and antisocial behavior. Results further suggest that encouraging prosocial behaviors as a means of fulfilling the need for stimulation in individuals with a psychophysiological risk profile could serve as an effective approach in redirecting their behaviors towards positive outcomes.

Background: Youth offenders have a high risk of being injured or dying prematurely. However, few studies have considered the role of imprisonment and potential childhood risk factors for these high rates.

Aim: To examine the risk of unintentional injury and premature death in non-imprisoned and imprisoned youth offenders, and to examine the role of parental criminal convictions and psychiatric disorders and own childhood psychiatric disorders.

Methods: All individuals (N = 1,839,711) born in Sweden between 1978 and 1996 were identified using Swedish population-based registers. The exposure was criminal conviction between ages 15-20 years of age.

Results: Imprisoned youth offenders had the highest risk for unintentional injury (HR = 2.29 [2.19-2.40]) and premature death (HR = 10.76 [9.52-12.16]), followed by nonimprisoned youth offenders, compared to non -convicted youth. All childhood risk factors increased the risk for these outcomes among non-imprisoned youth offenders. Among imprisoned youth offenders, parental criminal convictions and parental psychiatric disorders increased the risk for unintentional injury, and parental psychiatric disorders and own childhood psychiatric disorders increased the risk for premature death.

Conclusions: Our study shows there are robust modifiable childhood risk factors for injury and mortality among youth offenders. However, the importance of them to assess risk may differ between non-imprisoned and imprisoned youth offenders.

Background: Psychiatric diagnoses are important risk factors for criminal convictions, but few longitudinal studies have examined comorbidity patterns in relation to youth criminal convictions.

Aim: To explore associations between specific psychiatric diagnoses (substance use disorder (SUD), ADHD, depression, PTSD, intellectual disabilities (ID), and autism spectrum disorders (ASD)) and comorbidities of internalizing, externalizing, or neurodevelopmental diagnoses (NDD) in relation to risk of non-violent or violent criminal convictions in youth, including potential sex differences.

Methods: Data on 1,411,538 individuals born in Sweden (1985–1998) were obtained from national population-based registers. Exposure was psychiatric diagnoses and outcome was criminal convictions between ages 15 and 20.

Results: 17% of individuals had a psychiatric diagnosis, of whom 20% were convicted of a crime. All diagnoses, except ID and ASD, increased the risk of non-violent and violent crimes. Comorbidities of externalizing and internalizing diagnoses heightened the risk compared to single diagnoses. NDD increased the risk among SUD, depression, and PTSD, while NDD comorbid with another NDD decreased the risk for criminal convictions.

Conclusion: Of the three comorbidity categories, externalizing disorders heightened risk the most, followed by internalizing disorders. This study highlights specific risk patterns for criminal convictions related to comorbidities, and to crime type and sex.

Restraining orders can be used as a risk management strategy to reduce the likelihood of intimate partner violence (IPV) re-victimisation. The aim of this study was to examine how prosecutors work with cases of IPV, with a focus on their collaboration with police, use of violence risk assessment and implementation of restraining orders. A qualitative analysis was conducted based on semi-structured interviews with five prosecutors operating in two northern police districts in Sweden in 2016. Data were analysed using latent content analysis. Three overarching themes arose: The case, Organization of resources and Interpretation of the law. Each theme was discussed in the context of the prosecutors’ work with IPV. Prosecutors pointed to several inadequacies in the legislation and offered potential solutions that would ameliorate their work. Results also showed that prosecutors seldom used violence risk assessments conducted by police as a basis for issuing restraining orders. The primary reason for this was a lack of clear routines governing cooperation between police and prosecutors in the application process. The results from this study can be used when training criminal justice personnel in order to obtain a better understanding of the difficulties that prosecutors face when trying to protect victims of IPV.