Early Predictors of Callous and Unemotional Traits: The Roleof Infant, Toddler, and Parent Temperament

ABSTRACT

Etiological factors contributing to callous and unemotional (CU) traits, and early manifestations of child temperament and caregiver attributes, in particular, require further study. In addition, this researchmust account for overall child behavioral/emotional dysregulation. The present study does precisely this, considering infant, toddler, and parent temperament as predictors of CU traits, controlling for concurrent child behavior problems. Parent and infant temperament information was obtained at 4 and 12 months, with toddler temperament and CU traits measured at 2 years of age (N= 85). The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was utilized to measure total behavior problems, also providing an indicator of CU traits (α= .65). Hierarchical regressions indicated that CU traits were associated with infant fear, but not toddler temperament correlates, as well as maternal high intensity pleasure. These links are relevant to preventative efforts and to understanding the intergenerational transmission of risk for conduct disorder and psychopathy (AU)