Biosocial Interactive Perspective on Psychopathic Traits and Behavioral Problems in Childhood

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Understanding behavioral problems in childhood is informative in designing interventions and reducing crime in adulthood because of the continuity of antisocial behavior. This panel adopts a biosocial interactive perspective to investigate psychopathic traits and behavioral problems in childhood. The biosocial interactive perspective emphasizes the integration of both social and biological factors and is employed to provide a fuller picture for the etiology of antisocial behavior. These three papers examine the effects of physiological activity, including heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia activity and electrodermal activity, and their interaction with prenatal maternal stress and social adversity on the levels of psychopathic traits or behavior problems. Findings together highlight the importance of the biosocial interactive perspective. Theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.

Sub Unit

• Area III: Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Behavior / 1: Biological, Bio-social, and Psychological Perspectives

Individual Presentations

• Interaction between Prenatal Maternal Stress and Low Heart Rate in Predicting Conduct Problems and Psychopathic Traits in Children - Yonglin Huang, Brooklyn College / Graduate Center of the City University of New York; Yu Gao, Brooklyn College, City University of New York

• The Relationship between Social Adversity and Callous-unemotional (CU) Traits in Children: The Moderating Effect of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) Activity - Wei Zhang, Brooklyn College / Graduate Center of the City University of New York; Yu Gao, Brooklyn College, City University of New York

• Prenatal Maternal Stress Affects Behavioral Problems in Toddlers: The Moderating Effect of Electrodermal Activity - Yu Gao, Brooklyn College, City University of New York; Jessica Buthmann, Queens College / Graduate Center CUNY; Yoko Nomura, Queens College / Graduate Center CUNY

Chair

• Frances R. Chen, University of Pennsylvania

Discussant

• J.C. Barnes, University of Cincinnati