The Relationship Between Childhood Neglect And The Dark Triad: Longitudinal Mediation And Brain Structural Basis Of Malicious Creative Behavior

The dark triad(Machiavellianism,psychopathy and narcissism)reflected the dark side of human nature,with many maladaptive and negative consequences.Previous studies showed that childhood neglect had serious effects on cognitive,behavioral and personality development.Therefore,childhood neglect may affect malevolent creativity behavior and further influence the development of the Dark Triad.Based on the Distance-Conflicted Family Theory,the Functional Model of Creativity in Crime and Terrorism,and the Life History Theory,this study explored the prediction of childhood neglect on the Dark Triad,and the role of malevolent creativity behavior in the relationship.This study aimed to enrich empirical research,improve relevant theories,contribute to identify susceptible groups of the Dark Triad,prevent individual malevolent behavior patterns,and enable individuals to develop physically and mentally healthy.This study consisted of three sub-studies.In study 1,we adopted cross-sectional method,used questionnaires to measure childhood neglect,malevolent creativity behavior,and the Dark Triad among 991 participants,and conducted a latent variable model to explore the relationships among them.In study 2,we adopted longitudinal method,used questionnaires to evaluate the main factors among 220 participants at two time points,controlled T1 Dark Triad and constructed a regression equation model to test the relationship between childhood neglect and T2 Dark Triad,as well as the mediating role of malevolent creativity behavior in the relationship.In study 3,we used Magnetic Resonance Imaging to scan 46 participants' brain structures,correlated gray matter volume with scores of malevolent creativity behavior and the Dark Triad,and established a mediation model of brain-malevolent creativity behavior-the Dark Triad.Based on the three sub-studies,the main results were as follow:(1)The cross-sectional results of study 1 showed that childhood neglect positively predicted the Dark Triad through the mediating effect of malevolent creativity behavior.(2)The longitudinal results of study 2 showed that childhood neglect significantly positively predicted the development of T2 Dark Triad through the full mediating effect of T2 malevolent creativity behavior;(3)The brain structural results of study 3 showed that the left inferior orbitofrontal gyrus was the key brain region for malevolent creativity behavior,and it further predicted the Dark Triad through the complete mediating role of malevolent creativity behavior.The main conclusions of this study were as follows:(1)Childhood neglect was strongly correlated with the Dark Triad,and malevolent creativity behavior played a longitudinal mediating role in the relationship.(2)The left inferior orbitofrontal cortex was the key region of malevolent creativity behavior,and affected the Dark Triad through malevolent creativity behavior.