Can children be psychopaths?

A look at a recent Scottish case involving a potential child psychopath.

While the concept of psychopathy has historically been associated with adults, contemporary research suggests that children can indeed exhibit psychopathic traits. Psychopathy in children is often referred to as "juvenile psychopathy" which has gained recent popularity in psychological literature. Researchers have now examined various aspects of its manifestation and developmental paths in children.

One study in this area was conducted by Frick and colleagues (2014) who examined the developmental pathways and outcomes of children displaying psychopathic traits. The study utilized longitudinal data from a large sample of children to investigate the stability of psychopathic traits from childhood to adolescence and adulthood. Findings indicated that while psychopathic traits in children may manifest differently compared to adults, they demonstrate notable stability over time, with implications for long-term behavioural and social outcomes.

Research by Viding and McCrory (2012) looked at the neurobiological basis of juvenile psychopathy, exploring the relationship between “normal” brain functioning and the brain functioning of children displaying psychopathic traits. Their findings suggested that neural processing, particularly in regions implicated in emotion regulation and moral reasoning, may contribute to the development and persistence of psychopathic traits in children.

Studies have also highlighted the environmental factors that may interact with genetic predispositions to exacerbate or mitigate the expression of psychopathic traits in children. For instance, Dadds and colleagues (2012) examined the role of adverse childhood experiences in shaping the behavioural outcomes of children with callous-unemotional traits, a core component of psychopathy. Their research highlighted the importance of early intervention and targeted interventions aimed at addressing familial risk factors associated with the development of psychopathic traits in children.

Empirical research certainly suggests that children can indeed exhibit psychopathic traits. Here we take a look at a shocking case from Scotland involving a potential child psychopath, the murder of Alesha McPhail on the Isle of Bute.

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Alesha McPhail who was aged six at the time, was on the Isle of Bute in July 2018 visiting her grandparents and father during the summer holidays. It was during this visit that on the 2nd of July 2018 Alesha vanished from her bed over night. What unfolded after the alarm was raised to find Alesha would shock Scotland and the world. Alesha was eventually found later that day murdered in nearby woods. There were a total of 117 injuries inflicted on her, the nature of some of the injuries, simply cannot be repeated.

In the hope of finding something that might assist with the investigation into what happened to Alesha, Janette Campbell, a resident on the Isle of Bute, checked the CCTV that covered the back of her home from the night Alesha went missing. To her surprise she saw that her son, Aaron Campbell, had come and gone from the house on two occasions that night, finally returning at around 4am. She asked her son about what he was up to and being satisfied with his response, reported the findings to the police to eliminate her son from any potential attention. However, Aaron Campbell was never eliminated from the investigation and was eventually found guilty for the murder of Alesha McPhail.

Certain behaviours and characteristics exhibited by Campbell, the depravity of the murder and distinct lack of remorse during the subsequent trial align with those characteristics commonly associated with psychopathy, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).

Campbell's callous and calculated actions, coupled with a notable absence of empathy towards Alesha’s family are indicative of affective and interpersonal deficits that are characteristic of psychopathy. Not only did he show a complete lack of respect towards the family, he accused Alesha’s father’s girlfriend of her murder, citing her as a jealous murderer as part of his defence. Reports from Campbell's trial highlighted his lack of emotional response during proceedings and his seemingly indifferent demeaner towards the gravity of his actions. Shockingly soon after being convicted for the murder he confessed to the crime and told consultant forensic psychologist, Dr Gary Macpherson, that he was “satisfied with the murder” and said at times it took “everything to stop laughing” during the trial. This behaviour is consistent with the shallow affect and remorselessness often observed in individuals with psychopathic tendencies.

Moreover, the manner in which Campbell perpetrated the crime, by opportunistically snatching Alesha from her bed after entering her house in search of drugs, underscores the presence of traits associated with impulsivity and antisocial behaviour, hallmark features of psychopathy. His ability to manipulate and deceive, as evidenced by his popularity among friends and his attempts to conceal his involvement in the crime, shifting blame onto innocent parties, further aligns with the interpersonal manipulation and deceitfulness characteristic of psychopathic individuals.

The age of Campbell at the time of the offence raises pertinent questions regarding the early signs of psychopathic traits. While the manifestation of psychopathy in adolescence is subject to ongoing debate within the field of forensic psychology, Campbell's actions suggest a concerning disregard for societal norms and moral values. Certainly, the evidence in the case of Aaron Campbell does seem to suggest that children can be psychopaths.

To examine this case in more detail, this page provides a detailed account of the police investigation and trial.