Abstract
Previous research has established an association between perinatal complications and life-course persistent psychopathy. This current study examines psychopathy, measured by negative social-emotional behaviors, in a sample of children enrolled in Early Head Start programs who meet established perinatal risk factors. Psychopathy was evaluated in a preschool and grade five follow-up using data from the Early Head Start Research Evaluation Project. Results showed a significant association between perinatal risk factors and negative externalizing and internalizing social-emotional behaviors in preschool. Negative externalizing behaviors were not significant for at risk children in grade five, however high scores on an internalizing behavior measure for attention problems was significant for low birth weight and premature children. Further research should examine the effects of attention problems on psychopathy and evaluate any interaction between early parental training and perinatal risk factors for psychopathy.