Antisocial behaviors (ASB) are disruptive acts characterized by covert and overt hostility and violation of the rights and safety of others [1]. The emotional, social, and economic costs incurred by victims of ASB are far-reaching, ranging from victims’ psychological trauma to reduced productivity when victims miss work to costs incurred by taxpayers in order to staff and run a justice system [2, 3]. ASB has been recognized not merely as a social problem, but also as a mental health economic priority [4]. In addition to causing harm to others, those with ASB are themselves at elevated risk of criminal convictions as well as mental health and substance abuse problems [5]. Moreover, given the relative stability of ASB [6], it is important to also examine personality traits potentially tied to overt behaviors. Previous meta-analyses demonstrated that the Five-Factor Model of personality (FFM), particularly the domains of Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism, is potentially critical for better illuminating the correlates and causes of ASB [7, 8]. Given all this, it is a research imperative to illuminate the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis, emergence, and persistence of ASB.
