Psychopathy Traits in Minors, Predictors of Criminal and Homicidal Behaivor
A Systematic Review
Keywords:
conduct disorder, ciminal careers, juvenile homicide, psychopatich traits in minorsAbstract
This systematic review aims to reveal which psychopathic characteristics are present in minors and their association with homicides, based in the currently available evidence. The goal is to study the variables that might underlie such criminality and to better understand the process by which juveniles commit serious crimes such as homicide. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement, a bibliographic research was carried out using the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Criminal Justice Database and Science Direct. The considered documents were published in the last 10 years. The number of articles included in this review was 16. Psychopathy traits and Conduct Disorder were found to significantly influence the perpetration of delinquent and homicidal behavior in juveniles. In addition, that traumatic experiences, such as childhood maltreatment, were associated with different psychopathic traits. In conclusion, minors with psychopathic traits, conduct disorder, and those coming from problematic environments are more prone to act aggressively and perpetrate homicides. It was observed that there is a significant scarcity of research on samples involving minors, as well as a lack of prospective prediction regarding the initial detection of homicides committed by minors. The early identification of psychopathic traits is crucial. Policies should be focused on strengthening child protection, addressing abuse and creating safe environments.
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Constructos criminológicos Vol. 5 Núm. 9, Julio-Diciembre 2025, es una publicación semestral editada por la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, a través de la Facultad de Derecho y Criminología. Dirección de la publicación: Av. Universidad s/n Cd. Universitaria C.P. 66451, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México.constructoscriminologicos.uanl.mx, constructoscriminologicos@uanl.mx. Editor responsable: Dr. José Zaragoza Huerta, Facultad de Derecho y Criminología. Reserva de Derechos al Uso Exclusivo núm. 04-2024-110717414100-102 ISSN 2954-5234, ambos otorgados por el Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor. Responsable de la última actualización: Dr. José Zaragoza Huerta, Facultad de Derecho y Criminología Av. Universidad s/n Cd. Universitaria C.P. 66451, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México. Fecha de la última modificación 10 de julio 2025.