Search Results (43)

Background: A growing body of literature suggests that there are two variants of callous–unemotional (CU) traits—primary (with low anxiety) and secondary (with high anxiety)—although whether these traits differ in emotional regulation is unknown. The present study aimed to further our understanding of these variants by comparing the two variant groups (high CU/low anxiety and high CU/high anxiety) with two control groups (low CU/low anxiety and low CU/high anxiety) on emotional regulation, along with a variety of psychosocial and externalizing behavioral measures. Methods: A community sample of children aged 8 to 10 years (N = 340) from the northeast United States and their main caregivers participated in this study. Children completed an emotional regulation task while their sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activities were recorded. Prenatal and postnatal adversity and externalizing behaviors of the children were assessed using caregiver and child reports. Results: It was found that children with high CU/high anxiety were characterized by elevated parasympathetic activities during the emotional regulation task, along with more adversity and externalizing behaviors. Conclusions: These findings extend our knowledge on CU by highlighting the emotional dysregulation and more severe clinical picture that were associated with more psychosocial adversity in the high CU/high anxiety variants. Full article

Although the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing psychopathic traits, the reliability estimates of the APSD show great heterogeneity across different studies. This investigation evaluated the reliability of the APSD using a reliability generalization meta-analytic technique across 158 studies (N = 75,749). The APSD demonstrated marginal to acceptable coefficient alphas ranging from 0.62 (for the Callous–Unemotional subscale) to 0.79 (for the total scale). Further moderation analysis revealed that the differences in administration formats significantly explained the variance of coefficient alphas for the APSD total and subscales, and the self-report version of the APSD manifested poorer coefficient alphas than other-report versions. The standard deviation of scale scores also partly accounted for the variance of the coefficient alphas. Overall, the APSD was found to be a reliable, practical measurement of psychopathic traits in youth, which can be widely applied in various study settings. Nevertheless, we recommend that parent- and teacher-report versions of the APSD as the preferred administering format of the measure when used for children and juveniles, while the self-report version of the APSD is recommended with caution when assessing youth psychopathy, unless multiple-assess methods are used. Full article

Background/Objectives: Conduct Disorder (CD) involves persistent behavior violating societal norms and others’ rights. A subgroup of adolescents with CD exhibits callous–unemotional (CU) traits, which are linked to severe antisocial behavior and poorer long-term outcomes. Research suggests parenting plays an important role in the development of CU traits. However, few studies have explored the role of maternal and paternal parenting practices mediating the link between CU traits and violence within the same study. Methods: This study included 222 adolescents with Conduct Disorder (M_age = 15.7, 68% male) and examined whether perceived parental warmth and hostility, measured using the Quality of Parental Relationships, mediated the association between callous–unemotional (CU) traits and youth involvement in violent crime and gun violence, assessed via the Violent Crime Assessment and Gun Violence Questionnaire. Results: Double mediation models showed that only maternal hostility mediated the link between CU traits and violence, while maternal warmth and paternal parenting practices did not. Conclusions: Findings emphasize the role of maternal hostility in exacerbating violence, including gun violence, among adolescents with CD and CU traits. Full article

Scaled integument of six species of the genus Acanthocercus and Laudakia nupta, family Agamidae was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. Gross observation revealed the presence of two types of modified scales in the males. The enlarged scales covered with an extremely thick β-corneous layer were detected in the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tail base and on the palmar and plantar limb surfaces of all species. After detachment of the β-layer, the surface of such scales was covered with high papillae (“papillary scales”). The callous scales were found in the precloacal region of Acanthocercus species and in both precloacal and mid-ventral regions of L. nupta. Modified scales were found in some females and subadut specimens, and absent in juveniles. A prominent papillary layer characterized the dermis of both scale types. It was assumed that well-developed dermal papillae in such scales expended the total surface area of stratum germinativum and created a pool of proliferated cells in the interpapillary loops to increase the production of differentiating keratinocytes. These processes were undoubtedly associated with the formation of a thick and resistant corneous layer that distinguished both types of scales. Functional role, a taxonomic value, and analogies with normal and pathological epidermis in birds and mammals are discussed. Full article

Much attention has been given to the predictive role of callous–unemotional (CU) traits in children’s social and peer functioning. As an important dimension of social adaptation, early social withdrawal in preschool left-behind children (LBC) might be the outcome of psychological factors and growth environments. This study explored the predictive effect of CU traits on social withdrawal among preschool LBC, including the indirect effect of emotion regulation and teacher–child relationship quality. Data from 513 Chinese preschool LBC (257 boys and 256 girls) were reported by their teachers in rural areas, including assessments of CU traits, emotion regulation, social withdrawal, and teacher–child relationship quality. Path analyses showed that the CU traits of young LBC could significantly positively predict the prevalence of social withdrawal, and emotion regulation played a key mediating role in this effect path. Notably, teacher–child relationship quality moderated the indirect effect of emotion regulation on CU traits and withdrawal behaviors. Therefore, the moderated mediation model was supported. The findings expanded the recognition of LBC with CU traits and further suggested that the association of some personality traits and growing environments in the early left-behind childhood can significantly make a difference in peer functioning and social adjustment. Full article

Human trafficking continues to be a profitable multi-billion dollar business. People are either callous toward human rights or they are unaware of the crime occurring. Many businesses may unknowingly facilitate human trafficking by providing services, such as transportation, hotels, or haircuts, or purchasing products from unfamiliar sources that secretly use forced labor. To be socially responsible, a business must establish effective enterprise governance policies that help prevent and detect trafficking. A business can incur legal fines, damage to its reputation, incur lost business, and be subject to litigation, all as a result of human trafficking. Worldwide, estimates are that 50 million people are being trafficked. Human trafficking is especially harmful to females, both adult women and girls, who comprise about 70 percent of all trafficking victims. Gender theory helps explain this disproportionate impact on women. This study provides an overview of human trafficking, an empirical analysis of the relationship of gender inequality to trafficking, and specific steps that a business can take to help prevent this crime, protect its reputation, and avoid fines and lost business. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has recently made great advances in dermatology with respect to the classification and malignancy prediction of skin diseases. In this article, we demonstrate how we have used a similar technique to build a mobile application to classify skin diseases captured by patients with their personal smartphone cameras. We used a CNN classifier to distinguish four subtypes of dermatological diseases the patients might have (“pigmentation changes and superficial infections”, “inflammatory diseases and eczemas”, “benign tumors, cysts, scars and callous”, and “suspected lesions”) and their severity in terms of morbidity and mortality risks, as well as the kind of medical consultation the patient should seek. The dataset used in this research was collected by the Department of Telemedicine of Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo and consisted of 146.277 skin images. In this paper, we show that our CNN models with an overall average classification accuracy of 79% and a sensibility of above 80% implemented in personal smartphones have the potential to lower the frequency of skin diseases and serve as an advanced tracking tool for a patient’s skin-lesion history. Full article

In recent decades, many researchers have focused on the development of Conduct Problems from childhood to adolescence. Understanding behavior problems also requires an understanding of well-regulated characteristics. Focusing our assessment on strengths makes it possible, on the one hand, to help children or adolescents with deficits in important areas (e.g., socio-emotional deficits) to develop emotional regulation skills and adapt their responses to different contexts. This study aims to understand the role of self-competence, self-regulation, empathy, and responsibility (strength variables) in the relationship between Callous Unemotional characteristics and Conduct Problems, with a sample of 236 children aged between 3 and 10 years (M = 7.51, SD = 1.63), through mediation analysis. In general, our findings suggest that self-regulation significantly explains the relationship between the callous dimension of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits and Conduct Problems, pointing out that this strength variable seems to act as a protective factor against the development of behavior problems. No other mediation effects were found, and these results are considered in light of some limitations. Full article

The importance of assessing psychopathic traits in juveniles who have committed sexual offenses has been established in individuals who demonstrate a particularly severe and violent pattern of behavior. Additionally, the assessment of these traits in other juveniles might be relevant considering that higher levels of these traits represent an increased probability of the juvenile committing offenses. This study is a systematic review of the literature about the presence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in juveniles who have committed sexual and non-sexual offenses, in order to ascertain eventual differences between these groups regarding the presence of CU traits. Studies were obtained from multiple databases, with predefined exclusion and inclusion criteria, according to PRISMA-P guidelines. A total of 18 studies were reviewed and included in the final analysis. The 18 studies used measures of CU traits and reported descriptive categories of CU traits in juveniles who have committed general offenses or juveniles who have committed sexual offenses. Meta-analytic procedures such as pooled means, pooled variances, and pooled standard deviations are presented in this study. The main conclusion obtained is that juveniles who have committed general offenses present higher levels of CU traits compared to juveniles who have committed sexual offenses. Although the review highlights limitations in the literature, the identification of these characteristics in different types of juveniles who have committed offenses is important to shed light on the phenomenon and develop interventions better suited to their characteristics. Recommendations for future research are also presented. Full article

Research has clearly indicated that the development of serious behavioral problems in children and adolescents is influenced by parenting. However, recent research has refined the role of parenting by showing the importance of distinguishing between different types of parenting and in considering the role of callous–unemotional traits (CU traits) and conduct problems (CP) of the children. In the current study, we advance this research by distinguishing between emotional (e.g., parental warmth; parental hostility) and behavioral (e.g., use of positive reinforcement; inconsistent discipline/harsh discipline) aspects of parenting and by considering the way parents respond to children’s emotions (i.e., coaching and dismissing). The sample consisted of 136 mothers (M = 38.09 years, SD = 4.51 years, 45.41% high school degree) with a child (age range 3–5 years) enrolled in kindergarten in central Italy. Multiple regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for level of CP, use of positive reinforcement (β = −0.31, p < 0.001) and warm feelings (β = −0.22, p < 0.05), remained associated with CU traits and punitive parenting was no longer significant. Consistent with predictions, use of positive reinforcement was no longer associated with conduct problems when controlling for CU traits and the positive associations with punitive parenting (β = 0.24, p < 0.05) and negativity (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) remained significant. These findings support the need for continued research that considers both the emotional and behavioral aspects of parenting and disentangles their associations with conduct problems and CU traits. Such research could not only advance causal theories for children with conduct problems but also help to guide more effective treatments, especially for those with elevated CU traits who often leave treatment with significant conduct problems remaining. Full article

Conduct problems (CP) in childhood and adolescence have a significant impact on the individual, family, and community. To improve treatment for CP, there is a need to improve the understanding of the developmental pathways leading to CP in boys and girls. Prior research has linked the child’s fearlessness and callous–unemotional (CU) traits, as well as experiences of parental warmth and punitive parenting, to CP. However, few studies have tested the interplay of these factors in contributing to future CP development. The present study aimed to test the InterFear model, which suggests that fearlessness in early childhood leads to CP through an indirect pathway involving low positive parenting, high negative/punitive parenting, and callous–unemotional (CU) traits. The sample included 2467 Spanish children (48.1% girls; Mage = 4.25; SD = 0.91), followed up across a five-year period. Besides a direct association between fearlessness in early childhood and future CP, the results found an indirect pathway whereby fearlessness reduces positive parenting and increases punitive parenting, which contributes to the development of CU traits and sets the stage for CP in later childhood. The specific indirect effect from fearlessness to CP via CU traits accounted for most of the variance, suggesting the existence of a temperamental pathway independent of parental variables. Further, two additional indirect pathways, exclusive of fearlessness, were identified, which started with low parental warmth and positive parenting, leading to CP via CU traits. These findings support the InterFear model, demonstrating multiple pathways to CP with the involvement of fearlessness, parenting practices, and CU traits. This model might play a pivotal role in the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies for CP. Full article

This study investigated the associations among conduct problems, callous–unemotional (CU) traits, and indices of emotion recognition accuracy and emotion recognition bias obtained from human faces. Impairments in emotion recognition were considered within broader, impaired emotional and social functioning. The sample consisted of 293 middle-school students (51.19% girls; M age = 12.97 years, SD = 0.88 years). In general, CU traits were associated with less accuracy in recognizing emotions, especially fearful and angry faces, and such deficits in emotional recognition were not associated with conduct problems independent of CU traits. These results support the importance of studying potential deficits in the recognition of emotions other than fear. Furthermore, our results support the importance of considering the role of CU traits when studying emotional correlates of conduct problems. For children scoring high on CU traits, the emotion recognition accuracy of anger was low irrespective of the level of conduct problems, whereas in children scoring low on CU traits, less accuracy in recognizing emotions was related to increases in conduct problems. Finally, our results support the need for research to not only focus on accuracy of emotional recognition but also test whether there are specific biases leading to these inaccuracies. Specifically, CU traits were associated not only with lower accuracy in recognizing fearful faces but also with a tendency to interpret fearful faces as angry. This suggests that the emotional deficit associated with CU traits is not just a deficit in empathic concern toward others distress but also includes a tendency to overinterpret emotions as potential threats to oneself. Full article

Research has indicated that youths with CU traits are fearless, and this fearlessness plays a bidirectional role in both the development of CU traits and engagement in aggressive behavior. However, research specifically testing the role of fear in the association between CU traits and aggression is scarce. The goal of the current study was to test if fear reactivity, both conscious (self-report) and automatic (skin conductance reactivity; SCR), moderated the association between CU traits and aggression subtypes (reactive and proactive aggression). Participants included 161 adolescents (M_age = 15 years) diagnosed with conduct disorder. CU traits were assessed using the self-report Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits. Conscious and automatic fear reactivity were measured during a virtual reality rollercoaster using the Self-Assessment Manikin and skin conductance reactivity (SCR), respectively. Hierarchical regressions found that high fear reactivity on SCR moderated the link between CU traits and reactive aggression, while feeling more excited during fear induction moderated the link between CU traits and proactive aggression. Overall, a possible explanation of our divergent findings between conscious and automatic fear may be the difference between the instinctual biological response to threat versus the cognitive and emotional appraisal and experience of threat. Implications for intervention strategies targeting emotional recognition and regulation in reducing aggression in CD populations are discussed. Full article

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits refer to a cluster of characteristics such as low empathy, lack of remorse, and insensitivity to the emotions of others, delineating a group of youth at high risk for severe antisocial behavior. Two variants—primary and secondary CU—have been theorized to have different underlying mechanisms, although mixed findings have been reported. The current study examined if the variants differ in their level of anticipatory fear in 92 youths from the community (mean age = 14.2 years, range = 12.3–16.4 years; 43.5% female). Participants completed a countdown task while their heart rate and skin conductance responses were recorded. Parents and youths completed the inventory of callous-unemotional traits and the child behavior checklist. Compared to the control group (low CU/low anxiety), the primary CU group (high CU/low anxiety) showed prolonged heart rate deceleration in anticipation of the impending aversive stimulus. The secondary CU group (high CU/high anxiety) did not differ from the other two groups on heart rate or skin conductance responses. This prolonged heart rate deceleration in the primary CU group is interpreted in the context of the passive vagal coping theory of antisocial behavior which hypothesizes that an over-engagement of the parasympathetic nervous system reduces the impact of a socializing punishment, which in turn predisposes individuals to antisocial behavior. Findings provide further support for the distinct etiology of two variants of CU traits. Full article

Background: Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are characterized by low empathy, guilt, and prosociality, putting children at risk for lifespan antisocial behavior. Elevated CU traits have been linked separately to difficulties with emotion understanding (i.e., identifying emotional states of others) and disrupted parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) functioning. However, no study has investigated how PNS functioning and emotion understanding are jointly related to CU traits. Method: We explored associations between CU traits, emotion understanding, and PNS functioning (indexed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) among children aged 7–10 years old (n = 55). We also tested whether deficits in emotion understanding differ across specific emotions (i.e., fear, pain, happiness, anger). Each child’s RSA was continuously recorded while they watched a film that included emotionally evocative social interactions. To assess emotion understanding, children identified emotions replayed in 1s animations of scenes from the film. Parents reported on child CU traits, conduct problems, and demographic information. Results: Higher CU traits were related to lower emotion understanding (β = −0.43, p = 0.03). PNS activity during the film moderated this association (β = −0.47, p < 0.001), such that CU traits were associated with lower emotion understanding among children with mean (B = −0.01, t = −2.46, p = 0.02) or high (i.e., 1 SD > M; B = −0.02, t = −3.00, p < 0.001) RSA levels during the film, but not among children with low RSA levels (i.e., 1 SD < M; B = 0.00, t = −0.53, p = 0.60). Moreover, we found that the observed moderated associations are driven by deficits in fear, specifically. Conclusions: The link between poorer emotion understanding, fear understanding in particular, and CU traits was attenuated for children who demonstrated patterns of PNS functioning consistent with attentional engagement while viewing the emotion stimuli. Full article