Can you be born a psychopath? The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that “…psychopaths are born, and sociopaths are made.”[ref] Does this mean that if you are born with certain genes, you are destined to be a psychopath?
Exploring the genetics research on psychopath genes paints a different picture. This article explains the differences in psychopath brains and the multiple genetic variants linked to psychopathy. Members will see their genetic data in the Psychopathy Genotype report below.
Is there a psychopath gene?
Pithy sayings, such as ‘psychopaths are born, sociopaths are made’ do hold a kernel of truth… However, they miss the mark in a lot of ways.
Psychopaths are born. Sociopaths are made.
First, there is no single gene variant that causes psychopathy. Instead, a number of common genetic variants are linked to psychopathy and antisocial traits. We all have some ‘psychopath genes’.
Let’s dive into the topic and find out what makes a psychopath tick…
What is a psychopath?
We all have a mental picture of a psychopath – someone who lies without remorse, has no moral compass, and is cold and unemotional. They may be glib, smooth talkers who can lie their way out of a situation. Or they may just come across as emotionless and uncaring.
Depending on how researchers define a psychopath, the prevalence in the general population ranges from over 1% to as high as 5%.[ref]
Psychiatrists now refer to what we traditionally consider a psychopath as someone having severe Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder:
“1. A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
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- Failure to conform to social norms concerning lawful behaviors, such as performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
- Deceitfulness, repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for pleasure or personal profit.
- Impulsivity or failure to plan.
- Irritability and aggressiveness, often with physical fights or assaults.
- Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others.
- Consistent irresponsibility, failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor monetary obligations.
- Lack of remorse, being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another person.
2. The individual is at least 18 years old.
3. Evidence of conduct disorder typically with onset before age 15 years.
4. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.”[ref]
One study describes antisocial personality disorder as:[ref]
“Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a severe personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregarding or violating others’ rights, often without showing interest in the feelings of others “
Is psychopathy really genetic?
The estimated heritability of severe antisocial behavior disorder is about 50%.[ref]
While psychopathy has a genetic component, your genes don’t predestine you to become a psychopath.
Psychopathy is about half genetic and half other factors.
To clarify: Most of what researchers call ‘heritability’ is the genetic variants or mutations you inherit. However, heritability also includes epigenetics and in utero changes due to exposures before birth.
If heritability is half of psychopathy, what is the rest?
Childhood abuse, early stressors, parental controlling behaviors, and problems with managing impulsivity are intertwined with genetics. Researchers find that all of these can increase the risk in a susceptible individual.[ref]
Environmental factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke toxins in utero or heavy metal exposure, may also combine with genetic susceptibility.[ref]
Are psychopaths’ brains different?
Intriguingly, studies of psychopathic brains show physical and physiological differences. And these differences may start during brain development.
Starting young:
Researchers have looked at heritability in twin pairs in school-aged children. They found that the traits of being callous and unemotional combined with antisocial behavior are highly heritable. Unsurprisingly, children who were considered callous and unemotional also were much more likely to have conduct problems in school settings.[ref]
Other researchers examined information on study participants in a twins study that had followed the sibling pairs for a couple of decades (birth through young adulthood). They found that showing an early disregard for others in toddlerhood was statistically predictive of specific psychopathy traits in young adults.[ref]
Changes in the brain:
MRI studies on callous, unemotional, antisocial children showed a decrease in white matter and an increase in gray matter in their frontotemporal lobe (the location of emotion processing and moral decision-making). White matter in the brain develops as a person matures into adulthood, with the brain forming interconnections. Children who just exhibited antisocial behavior without being callous and unemotional don’t have the same alterations in white and gray matter in MRI images.[ref]
The latest research points to psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder as having neurodevelopmental disorder features.[ref] In other words, something didn’t develop normally in the brain. Researchers are looking at various regions of the brain during development and finding physical differences.[ref]
Genetics vs. Epigenetics:
Genetic variants can cause an overall increase or decrease in gene expression – in other words, an increase or decrease in how well the gene works.
Other ways that gene expression can upregulate or downregulate include epigenetics.
Epigenetics is often likened to the ‘software’, while genes are the hardware. Essentially, the epigenetic process turns genes on and off for translation into proteins. Things that can cause epigenetic changes include severe childhood stress, exposure to drugs, and exposure to various environmental toxicants.
In recent studies, epigenetic changes in the way that certain genes express themselves show links to antisocial personality disorder. The findings include some of the same genes (below) that have genetic links to psychopathy, such as in MAOA (monoamine oxidase A) and serotonin receptor genes.[ref][ref] Epigenetic changes in how certain genes are expressed are linked to antisocial personality disorder.
Cool study: In a 2019 study, researchers from Finland looked at the protein expression in neurons and astrocytes, comparing psychopaths to non-psychopaths. Interestingly, the researchers did this by testing skin cells from violent prisoners, nonviolent prisoners, and non-incarcerated people. In what almost seems like a bad sci-fi plot, the researchers used the skin cells to create stem cells and then differentiated those stem cells into neurons and astrocytes (brain cell types).
The researchers then looked at which genes were expressed differently in violent offenders’ neurons compared to control subjects. The results showed that ZNF132 was markedly upregulated in the violent offenders, and CDH5 was markedly downregulated. A pseudogene of unknown function called RPL10P9 had a 10-fold upregulation in the violent prisoner’s neurons.[ref] Makes you wonder what RPL10P8 is doing in the brain?
ZNF132, a zinc-finger protein, is found throughout the body, including in the brain’s cerebral cortex.[ref] The gene encodes a protein involved in the transcription of other genes — essentially, it turns on other genes.[ref][ref]
CDH5 encodes vascular endothelial cadherin, an important protein in cell-to-cell adhesion. The protein is important for forming the lining of blood vessels and developing neurons in the brain.[ref]
Research is still ongoing regarding epigenetics, protein expression, and genetics. But the overall picture emerging shows that psychopathy is more than just genetic changes and that DNA alone cannot predict who will be a psychopath.
Psychopathy Genotype Report
Please note: Many of the variants below are fairly common, and you are likely to have some of them. Just because you have a genetic variant that increases the relative risk of psychopathy doesn’t mean you will be a callous, unemotional, immoral criminal. Instead, take this information for what it is — just one small piece of what makes you who you are.
Members: Log in to see your data below.
Not a member? Join here.
Why is this section is now only for members? Here’s why…
Member Content:
Why join Genetic Lifehacks?
~ Membership supports Genetic Lifehack's goal of explaining the latest health and genetics research.
~ It gives you access to the full article, including the Genotype and Lifehacks sections.
~ You'll see your genetic data in the articles and reports.
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Conclusion
Research on ASPD and psychopathy clearly points to alterations in the brain due to both genetic susceptibility and maltreatment of some sort during brain development.
The rest of this article is for Genetic Lifehacks members only. Consider joining today to see the rest of this article.
Member Content:
Why join Genetic Lifehacks?
~ Membership supports Genetic Lifehack's goal of explaining the latest health and genetics research.
~ It gives you access to the full article, including the Genotype and Lifehacks sections.
~ You'll see your genetic data in the articles and reports.
Join Here
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