Child Psychopathy: Theories, Measurement, and Relations with the Development and Persistence of Conduct Problems

Abstract

To develop more accurate explanatory and predictive models of child and adolescent conduct problems, interest has grown in examining psychopathic traits in youth. The presence or absence of these traits may help to identify unique etiological pathways in the development of antisocial behavior. The current review provides a detailed summary and analysis of (a) the conceptualization and measurement of child and adolescent psychopathy, (b) research on relations between psychopathic traits and a range of conduct problems and associated variables, (c) efforts to utilize data on child and adolescent psychopathy to delineate a subgroup of youth whose conduct problems share a relatively homogenous etiology and developmental trajectory, and (d) current challenges and limitations in the study of youth psychopathy and directions for future research efforts. Specific sections include the origins of the youth psychopathy construct, conceptualization and measurement, relations between psychopathic traits and conduct problems, relations between measures of psychopathy and measures of individual and contextual variables, efforts to identify a unique subgroup of children with conduct problems using psychopathic traits, and finally, challenges that face the field and goals for the next generation of research.

The DSM-5 Limited Prosocial Emotions subtype of Conduct Disorder in incarcerated male and female juvenile delinquents

“…There is therefore also evidence in this case which mostly confirms the hypothesis that was set. We must conclude that the new CD LPE specifier is important for the early identification of young people at potential high risk and for the rigorous assessment of young people who have already come into contact with the judicial system, thus helping to identify unique etiological pathways in the development of antisocial behavior and promoting an empirically grounded basis to guide interventions (Frick & White, 2008;Kotler & McMahon, 2005).…”

DSM-IV conduct disorder criteria as predictors of antisocial personality disorder

“…Finally, higher levels of psychopathic traits in adolescence predict violent recidivism (11). However, the appropriateness and validity of psychopathy in adolescents is a contentious issue and its application to adolescents is a relatively new area (12).…”

Personalidade e comportamentos problema: um estudo comparativo com adolescentes em contexto escolar

“…A atenção a estes jovens e a preocupação com a sua avaliação justifi ca-se pela necessidade de deteção precoce, de prevenção e intervenção posterior, no sentido de evitar trajetórias inadaptativas (Frick, 2004;Frick & Viding, 2009) ou cascatas desenvolvimentistas em que se acumulem e potenciem difi culdades ao longo do tempo. Até porque os padrões sintomáticos de alterações comportamentais podem apresentar evoluções negativas para situações que comprometam de forma irreversível a saúde pessoal ou ainda para perturbações de natureza antissocial e/ou de mesmo psicopática, que têm o seu início em períodos anteriores e muito precoces do desenvolvimento (Frick, 2009;Gacono & Hughes, 2004;Kotler & McMahon, 2005).…”