Callous and Unemotional Traits in Childhood

Abstract

Callous and unemotional (CU) traits is the term used to describe children who show a constellation of features including low levels of empathy and guilt, uncaring attitudes about others' feelings and their own performance in important activities, and shallow emotions. When CU traits co‐occur with antisocial behavior, they are a marker for a particularly severe, aggressive, and chronic pattern of conduct problems. CU traits emerge in early childhood, are moderately to highly stable, and typically predict a negative developmental trajectory. Decades of research have demonstrated that this population shows distinct neurocognitive and socioemotional deficits relative to their non‐CU counterparts. Given that CU traits are associated with significant maladjustment later in life and a considerable societal burden, contemporary research is focused on refining their assessment and on developing comprehensive, targeted interventions that address their unique treatment needs. Recommendations for the next frontier of research into CU traits among children are discussed.