Moral Emotions, Emotion Self-Regulation, Callous-Unemotional Traits, and Problem Behavior in Children of Incarcerated Mothers

Abstract

Children with incarcerated mothers are at high risk for developing problem behaviors. Fifty children (6-12 years; 62% girls) participated in summer camps, along with adult mentors. Regression analyses of child and adult measures of child's emotion self-regulation and callousunemotional traits, and a child measure of moral emotions, showed that poor emotion regulation, along with low levels of guilt and high levels of shame, predicted children's externalizing behaviors, while only low levels of guilt predicted a unique subset of child characteristics called callous-unemotional traits. Children who experienced healthy guilt for misdeeds were better able to control their behavior. Adults noted the ability of children with callous/ unemotional traits to manage and regulate their emotions, while poor emotion regulation was more predictive of the cluster of externalizing problems. Discussion focuses on prevention efforts aimed at teaching emotion self-regulation and the implications of the high levels of callousunemotional traits in this population of children.

The evolutionary roots of psychopathy

“…Positive emotions, both universal (like joy) and social (like compassion) ones are related to prosocial, affiliative and altruistic behavior (Damasio, 2006;Gilbert, 2005Gilbert, , 2010Schultz, Izard, & Bear, 2004). On the other side, negative universal and social emotions (like hostility or shame) are frequently involved in aggressive behavior and in psychopathy itself (Baumeister et al, 1996;Frick & Morris, 2004;Gold, Sullivan, & Lewis, 2011;Heinzen, Koehler, Smeets, Hoffer, & Huchzermeier, 2011;Lotze, Ravindran, & Myers, 2010;Morrison & Gilbert, 2001). While the ability of psychopathic individuals to detect emotions has been investigated, few studies have looked at positive and negative emotions in psychopathic individuals.…”

Moral Depravity: Going Beyond Just an Attribute of Psychopathy

“…The moderated-expression model would define successful psychopathy as a forme-fruste, or atypical manifestation of psychopathy in which protective factors, such as intact executive functioning, intelligence, and effective parenting buffer psychopathic individuals against maladaptive outcomes [17]. This model supports the theories that moral emotions and motivations, as well as empathy, are socially learned and reinforced [3,[5][6][7][8].…”

“…Lotze, et al [8]. see the need for functional thinking as emotional self-regulation in which the individual develops a way to control and manage their emotions.…”

“…The moral emotions of guilt and shame help inhibit socially maladaptive behaviors; these are self-relevant emotions that are experienced when someone is doing something morally or social unacceptable [8]. Self-awareness and understanding of standards or rules, the opposite of moral depravity, are necessary for guilt and shame to occur.…”

“…Shame generates other emotions such as anger, hostility, sadness, and anxiety. Their research is centered on callous-unemotional traits: arrogance, lack of remorse and empathy, on top of being manipulative and deceitful [8]. These traits lessen one's ability to empathize and they inhibit interpersonal aggression.…”