This research study evaluated the effects of early childhood environment and the influence parenting style has on the life outcomes among university students who varied in psychopathic traits; demonstrating evidence to show students who scored highly in measures of psychopathy used antisocial success seeking strategies to attain common life goals. This study examined the prospect of parenting styles and childhood environment as possible influences on important differences between psychopaths who become involved in the American legal system and those who do not. These differences were identified by asking participants to describe how often they engage in success seeking behaviors by using either prosocial or antisocial methods. Results were based on a hierarchical regression analysis and illustrated psychopathy as a significant predictor for utilizing antisocial success seeking strategic behavior. Such strategies include lying on job applications, accepting credit for the work of others, or winning a competition by cheating. In contrast, our Model determined that parental influence based on measures of paternal and maternal warmth, financial support, and physical and emotional abuse, did not significantly predict either prosocial success seeking strategies or antisocial success seeking strategies. Possible trends relating to childhood environment were identified but were undoubtedly restricted due to the evidently small sample size in this study. Conclusions into this investigation affirm the necessity for additional research into this view of psychopathy and how some psychopaths may be able to utilize their unique traits to their advantage.

Childhood adversity, trauma and maltreatment have been linked to intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood, with many survivors experiencing revictimization. The majority of research in this area focuses on established adults, and does not highlight the mechanism between childhood adversity and IPV. This study examines the impact childhood adversity has on the perceived acceptability of less-obvious abusive behaviors, or “yellow flags”, in young adult romantic and friendly relationships amongst Arizona State University undergraduates (M age = 20.4). Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that young adults are more permissive of yellow flag behaviors in their friendships, as does the frequency of said behavior. Age, sex, minority status, and type of adversity experienced are significantly correlated with increased acceptability and frequency. No significant findings were found for romantic relationships, but may have been limited by sample demographics and the pool from which participants were drawn.