Experiences of a difficult childhood can influence how a person builds their life in different ways, with personality traits playing an important role. This conclusion was reached by psychologists who examined the relationship between childhood trauma, so-called “dark” personality traits, and life strategies. The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences (PID).

The researchers drew on life history theory, which suggests that people allocate resources between the present and the future. In adverse and unpredictable environments, a “fast” life strategy is more likely to develop—one focused on immediate rewards, risk-taking, and short-term goals. In stable conditions, by contrast, a “slow” strategy tends to prevail, emphasizing long-term planning and stable relationships.

The study involved 270 university students. Participants completed questionnaires about childhood trauma, family well-being, and the expression of the “dark triad” traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The results showed that adverse childhood experiences were indeed associated with the development of a fast life strategy.

The most notable finding concerned subclinical psychopathy. This trait specifically strengthened the link between trauma and life strategy choice. Among individuals with low levels of psychopathy, childhood trauma had a weaker influence on risk orientation and short-term goals. In contrast, when psychopathy levels were high, the effect was significantly stronger.

“In this case, psychopathy acts as an amplifier of the response to adverse experiences, pushing individuals toward a harsher, survival-oriented strategy,” the authors explained. In their view, such traits may serve an adaptive function, helping people acquire resources more quickly in a world perceived as dangerous.

At the same time, the family’s socioeconomic status during childhood, although related to life strategies, did not amplify the impact of trauma. This suggests that the psychological consequences of abuse and neglect operate relatively independently of income level.