Childhood Experiences and Cognition: Relationships Between ACEs, Working Memory, and Criminality
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2021
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Abstract
Recent research has suggested that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact a number of aspects of adult behavior and cognition, including hyperactivity, impulsivity, and criminality. ACEs have also been associated with a lower Working Memory (WM) capacity. However, research is limited in determining the effect that an impacted WM capacity has on individuals with high ACE scores when observing criminal behavior or cognition. This study then presents the question: What is the relationship between ACEs and criminality and how is that relationship mediated by WM? ACEs were measured using a scale primarily created from combinations of the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS; Straus & Gelles, 1990) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein & Fink, 1998), which was assembled by Dube et al. (2003). The Working Memory Questionnaire (Vallat-Azouvi et al., 2012) was utilized to measure WM capacity. Demographics were also collected in an original questionnaire. The results of the study indicate that there were significant positive correlations between ACEs, WM difficulties, and criminal behavior. However, the relationship between ACEs and criminal behavior did not appear to be moderated by WM. These findings suggest that early childhood traumas impact WM and criminal behavior, but that relationship may be moderated by a separate, undiscovered variable. Further research should be conducted to better understand the relationship between these constructs and how that information could be utilized in early intervention therapeutic services for victims of child abuse or neglect.
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Adverse childhood experiences, Working memory, Criminality, Child abuse, Adult behavior