Stability of Psychopathic Characteristics in Childhood

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy D. Barry ◽  
Christopher T. Barry ◽  
Annie M. Deming ◽  
John E. Lochman
Keyword(s):  
Social Competence ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Preference ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Aggressive Children

The current study is a preliminary longitudinal investigation of the stability of psychopathic characteristics, including social relationships as a moderator, within a group of aggressive children ( N = 80). Data were collected from the children, their parents, teachers, and peers. Results indicated that the psychopathic characteristics (callous—unemotional traits, impulsive conduct problems, and narcissism) were relatively stable across three time points. Social relationship variables (child self-report of social competence, teacher-rated social competence, and peer-rated social preference) were generally correlated with psychopathic characteristics. Self-report of social competence moderated change from Time 1 to Time 2 narcissism based on parent report. Both peer-rated social preference and teacher-rated social competence moderated change from Time 1 to Time 3 impulsive conduct problems. These results provide preliminary support that psychopathic characteristics are generally stable in aggressive children and that social relationships are a potentially valuable point of intervention when children present with these characteristics.

A Comparison of Parent, Teacher, and Youth Ratings on the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits

Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112110478
Author(s):  
Tatiana M. Matlasz ◽  
Paul J. Frick ◽  
Julia E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Social Preference ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Third Grade ◽  
Teacher Report ◽  
Cu Traits ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
Unemotional Traits ◽  
Peer Nominations

The current study compared the validity of self-, parent-, and teacher-report versions of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits (ICU), a widely used measure of callous–unemotional (CU) traits, at several different ages. Participants ( N = 236, 60.6% girls) were children in Grades 3, 6, and 8 ( Mage = 11.55, SD = 2.23) from a public school system in the southern United States. We tested the association of all three ICU versions with several validators: parent- and teacher-reported conduct problems, peer nominations of characteristics associated with CU traits, and sociometric peer nominations of social preference. Results revealed an interaction between the ICU version and grade in the overall level of CU traits reported, with teacher-report leading to the highest ratings in sixth grade and being higher than parent-report in third grade. Furthermore, the validity of the different versions of the ICU varied somewhat across grades. Specifically, findings support the validity of both teacher- and self-report in third grade, but self-report was the only version to show strong validity in the eighth grade.

scholarly journals Further Validation of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits in Chinese Children: Cross-Informants Invariance and Longitudinal Invariance

Assessment ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1668-1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Cheng Wang ◽  
Yiyun Shou ◽  
Jinghui Liang ◽  
Hongyu Lai ◽  
Hong Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Multiple Informants ◽  
Chinese Children ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Longitudinal Measurement ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
Unemotional Traits

The present study examined the factor structure and measurement invariance of the shortened versions of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits (ICU) with data from multiple informants. Five short versions of the ICU proposed in previous studies were tested and compared through confirmatory factor analysis. The measurement invariance across different informants (i.e., self-report, parent-report, and teacher-report) and longitudinal measurement invariance for the resulting best-fitting model were tested thoroughly. Results indicated that a shortened form that consists of 11 items (ICU-11) to assess callousness and uncaring factors had excellent overall fit. Moreover, the ICU-11 was invariant across informant and occasions. However, the ICU-11 was not without limitations; the internal consistency α for the uncaring factor with self-report scores was marginal. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the ICU-11 was an excellent fit for our data and displayed measurement invariance across informants and over time. The ICU-11 may be a promising assessment tool that could be used in research to assess callous–uncaring traits in Chinese children.

Psychometric Properties of Parent Ratings on the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits in a Nationally Representative Sample of 5- to 12-Year-Olds

Assessment ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107319112096456
Author(s):  
Pevitr S. Bansal ◽  
Dara E. Babinski ◽  
James G. Waxmonsky ◽  
Daniel A. Waschbusch
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Moderating Role

The psychometric properties of the parent-report version of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits (ICU) in school-aged children requires further examination. In a nationally representative sample of U.S. children ( N = 1,064, M age = 8.42, 51.7% boys), the current study examined the factor structure, measurement invariance, and the moderating role of parent rated ICU scores on conduct problems. Results supported (a) a two-factor model consisting of a CU factor and a limited prosocial emotions (LPE) factor; (b) an invariant structure of the ICU across child sex, as well as (to a lesser extent) across child age and parent sex; and (c) the moderating role of the LPE factor on the relationship between conduct problems and relevant outcomes (i.e., impairment, need for treatment). Normative data on the parent-report version of the ICU for elementary-aged school children in the United States were also presented. Clinical implications regarding use of the parent-report version of the ICU for school-aged children are discussed.

The moderating effect of irrationality on the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems in teenagers

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S349-S349
Author(s):  
C. Costea
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Irrational Beliefs ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
Unemotional Traits ◽  
The Relationship

The main objective of this study was the investigation of the moderation effect of irrationality on the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems in youths, this last association having been demonstrated before in scientific research. The data was collected from 40 patients of a pediatric psychiatry clinic, during the last 18 months.We used the following instruments for measuring the main variables of the study: The Youth Self-Report (YSR, Achenbach, 1991) for the conduct problems, The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU, Frick, 2004) and The Child and Adolescent Scale of Irrationality (CASI, Bernard and Cronan, 1999).The acquired data was analyzed with the SPSS 20 statistical software. First, we performed the descriptive statistics and then we conducted the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The research design is predictive, moderation type.The results showed a significant positive association between callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems, a significant positive association between irrationality and conduct problems, no significant statistical association between callous-unemotional traits and irrational beliefs and no significant moderating effect of irrational cognitions on the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems. Nonetheless, callous-unemotional traits and irrationality explain 49.5% of the variance of behavior problems.The results confirm the need of adapted individualized therapeutic strategies for children and adolescents with conduct problems, to address both their callous-unemotional traits and their irrational beliefs.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The Relation of Callous–Unemotional Traits and Bullying in Early Adolescence Is Independent from Sex and Age and Moderated by Conduct Problems

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1059
Author(s):  
Gennaro Catone ◽  
Luisa Almerico ◽  
Anna Pezzella ◽  
Maria Pia Riccio ◽  
Carmela Bravaccio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Early Adolescence ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Traditional Bullying ◽  
Bullying Perpetration ◽  
Cu Traits ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits ◽  
Specific Association ◽  
The Relationship

In youths, callous–unemotional (CU) traits and conduct problems (CP) are independently associated with bullying perpetration and these effects are also observed when controlling for sex. Moreover, research indicates that the co-existence of high levels of both CU and CP further increase the risk. Although several studies have examined the relationship between CU traits and traditional bullying, few have also included a measure of cyberbullying and very few of them have focused the early adolescence. The aim of this study was to replicate and extend these findings in a large sample of Italian early adolescents considering both traditional and cyberbullying behaviors. Data were extracted from the Bullying and Youth Mental Health Naples study (BYMHNS) which included 2959 students of 10–15 years of age. CP, CU traits, traditional bullying behaviors, and cyberbullying behaviors were assessed by multi-item self-report scales. As expected, we replicated the significant and specific association between CU traits and traditional bullying, extending the findings to cyberbullying. In addition, in the latter case the effect was moderated by CP. The theoretical and clinical implications of these results were discussed.

scholarly journals Emotional reactivity and the association between psychopathy-linked narcissism and aggression in detained adolescent boys

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luna C. Muñoz Centifanti ◽  
Eva R. Kimonis ◽  
Paul J. Frick ◽  
Katherine J. Aucoin
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Proactive Aggression ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Autonomic Reactivity ◽  
Adolescent Boys ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Detention Center ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Callous Unemotional Traits

AbstractDifferent patterns of emotional reactivity characterize proactive and reactive functions of aggressive behavior, and theory also suggests a link of both types with narcissism. How people with narcissistic traits respond emotionally to competitive scenarios could influence their aggressiveness. Participants were 85 adolescent boys from a detention center. Several indices of emotional functioning were assessed, including attentional bias to negative emotional stimuli and psychophysiological responding. In addition, we included self-report and laboratory measures of aggression and measures of psychopathy-linked narcissism, callous–unemotional traits, and impulsivity. Psychopathy-linked narcissism was uniquely related to unprovoked aggression (i.e., proactive aggression) and to heightened attention to pictures depicting others’ distress. Compared with those scoring low on narcissism, those high on narcissism, who were the least physiologically reactive group, evinced greater proactive aggression, whereas those showing a pattern of coactivation (i.e., sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic reactivity) evinced greater reactive aggression. Results are consistent with descriptions of narcissistic individuals as being hypervigilant to negative cues and exhibiting poor emotion regulation. These characteristics may lead to aggressive and violent behavior aimed at maintaining dominance over others.

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