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Deng J, Shou Y, Wang MC, Allen JL, Gao Y, Hawes DJ. Core features of callous-unemotional traits: a cross-cultural comparison of youth in four countries. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:10.1007/s00787-023-02357-8. [PMID: 38180536 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02357-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
With considerable debate concerning the impact of culture on the expression of callous-unemotional (CU) traits, it is unclear whether the core features of CU traits generalize to youth across cultures. This study aimed to examine whether cultural differences are reflected in the core features of CU traits and the associations among these features. Network analysis was employed to identify the core features and to examine the network structure of CU traits operationalized by the Inventory of Callous Unemotional traits (ICU) in four community youth samples from different nations (Australia, N = 190; the UK, N = 437; the USA, N = 330; China, N = 503). The item "Apologizes to people" was identified as a cross-cultural core feature in the ICU network with a greater centrality of this item compared to others in all four samples. In addition, some items were identified as culture-specific core features in the network, differing in their centrality across samples. The network structures of the youth self-report ICU items were moderately similar across samples, while the structures of parent-report items showed substantial differences. These findings have important implications for cross-cultural research on CU traits as well as practical implications for screening and treatment. The core features of ICU appear to be generalizable in youth across cultures, although cultural-specific manifestations should be noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Deng
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Guangzhou, 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, 510006, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Meng-Cheng Wang
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Guangzhou, 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, 510006, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | | | - Yu Gao
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Lin Y, Xie B. Disentangle psychopathic traits, self-construal and prosocial behaviours: A literature review. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 240:104045. [PMID: 37826884 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychopathy encompasses a constellation of personality traits, including interpersonal callousness, absence of remorse and guilt, and impulsivity. While extensive research has linked psychopathy to various antisocial behaviours, there has been a scarcity of studies investigating its association with prosocial behaviours, particularly within diverse sociocultural contexts. This comprehensive review explores recent literature that delves into the intricate interplay between psychopathy, prosocial behaviours, and self-construal. The current review reveals a complex and sometimes contradictory relationship between psychopathy and prosocial behaviours. The authors also examine the role of self-construal, a crucial sociocultural aspect, in relation to psychopathy and prosocial behaviours, and imply the intricate interplay between them. Amidst the review, the interactions between key constructs and sociocultural as well as contextual factors, including group identification and public awareness, are highlighted, and their potential role in modulating individuals' prosocial decision-making is discussed. At last, this review pinpointed notable research gaps: the potential moderating role of self-construal in the connection between psychopathy and prosocial behaviours, and a methodologically specific recommendation for future research is proposed. These findings consolidate the current evidence on psychopathy, self-construal and prosocial behaviours, and offer valuable insights into how sociocultural factors contribute to the heterogeneous expression of psychopathic traits, illuminating the directions for research on the development of culture-specific conceptualizations of psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiheng Lin
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wanping Nan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bin Xie
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wanping Nan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang G, Zhu Y. The Mediating Role of Callous-Unemotional Traits in the Relationship between Parental Aggression and Behavioral Problems among Chinese Preschoolers. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1054. [PMID: 37371285 PMCID: PMC10297390 DOI: 10.3390/children10061054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that aggressive parenting is associated with behavioral problems among Western children in their early childhood, but this has rarely been examined among Chinese preschoolers. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between aggressive parenting, callous-unemotional traits (CU traits), and behavioral problems among a large Chinese preschool sample. Data were collected in Wuhu city, China, from 1879 preschoolers (54% of whom were male) with a mean age of 65.66 months (standard deviation = 9.41). Parents provided information about the frequency of aggressive parenting, children's behaviors, and demographic characteristics via an online questionnaire. Mediation models were applied to analyze the associations between aggressive parenting, CU traits, and behavioral problems. Preschoolers' age, gender, and family socioeconomic status were considered as covariates. The findings of our study revealed that higher frequencies of parental psychological and physical aggression were associated with high levels of CU traits, which were related to increased levels of preschoolers' behavioral problems. This study extends previous studies by revealing a positive relationship between aggressive parenting and behavioral problems among Chinese preschoolers via CU traits and highlights the risks of aggressive parenting. Interventions for improving parenting strategies and lessening callous-unemotional traits should be developed to help reduce behavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengli Zhang
- Faculty of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yantong Zhu
- School of Comprehensive Human Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
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Chester SC, Ogawa T, Terao M, Nakai R, Abe N, De Brito SA. Cortical and subcortical grey matter correlates of psychopathic traits in a Japanese community sample of young adults: sex and configurations of factors’ level matter! Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:5043-5054. [PMID: 36300595 PMCID: PMC10151884 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
While neuroimaging research has examined the structural brain correlates of psychopathy predominantly in clinical/forensic male samples from western countries, much less is known about those correlates in non-western community samples. Here, structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using voxel- and surface-based morphometry to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of psychopathic traits in a mixed-sex sample of 97 well-functioning Japanese adults (45 males, 21–39 years; M = 27, SD = 5.3). Psychopathic traits were assessed using the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-SF; 4th Edition). Multiple regression analysis showed greater Factor 1 scores were associated with higher gyrification in the lingual gyrus, and gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala/hippocampus border. Total psychopathy and Factor 1 scores interacted with sex to, respectively, predict cortical thickness in the precuneus and gyrification in the superior temporal gyrus. Finally, Factor 1 and Factor 2 traits interacted to predict gyrification in the posterior cingulate cortex. These preliminary data suggest that, while there may be commonalities in the loci of structural brain correlates of psychopathic traits in clinical/forensic and community samples, the nature of that association might be different (i.e. positive) and may vary according to sex and configurations of factors’ level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally C Chester
- University of Birmingham Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, , Birmingham, UK
| | - Tatsuyoshi Ogawa
- Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Division of Transdisciplinary Sciences, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, , Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Maki Terao
- Institute for the Future of Human Society , Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Nakai
- Institute for the Future of Human Society , Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhito Abe
- Institute for the Future of Human Society , Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Stephane A De Brito
- University of Birmingham Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, , Birmingham, UK
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Ene I, Wong KKY, Salali GD. Is it good to be bad? An evolutionary analysis of the adaptive potential of psychopathic traits. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2022; 4:e37. [PMID: 37588932 PMCID: PMC10426111 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2022.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Although psychopathy is widely conceptualised as a mental disorder, some researchers question the maladaptive nature of psychopathy, and argue that it might be advantageous from an evolutionary point of view. According to this view, psychopathy can be seen as an evolutionary adaptative strategy that relies on deception and manipulation to gain short-term reproductive benefits. Psychopathy is also identified as a fast life strategy in response to early life stress and an adaptation to harsh environments. This paper investigates the evidence that psychopathic traits are adaptive, while also addressing the limitations of current evolutionary models of psychopathy based on frequency-dependent selection and life history theory. We review recent studies on the fitness correlates of psychopathy and find that psychopathic traits present potential adaptive trade-offs between fertility and mortality, and offspring quantity and quality. On a proximate level, individual differences in stress reactivity and environmental risk factors in early development predispose to psychopathy through gene-environment interactions. We propose that environmental, developmental, social and cultural factors can mediate the relationship between psychopathic traits and fitness and therefore should be considered to make accurate predictions on the adaptive potential of psychopathy. We end by outlining gaps in the literature and making recommendations for future evolutionary research on psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Ene
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK
| | - Keri Ka-Yee Wong
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, University College London, 25 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, UK
| | - Gul Deniz Salali
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK
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Network analysis of psychopathic traits among Chinese male offenders based on three self-report psychopathy measures. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03205-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Wang MC, Deng J, Shou Y, Sellbom M. Cross-Cultural Examination of Psychopathy Network in Chinese and U.S. Prisoners. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-022-09960-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Latent Profile Analysis of Psychopathy in Chinese Female Offenders. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-022-09958-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Differences in dark triad personality: Evidence from China and the USA. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01402-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Assessing the Measurement Invariance of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in School Students in China and the United Kingdom. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2021; 52:343-354. [PMID: 32578003 PMCID: PMC7973647 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01018-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The current study investigated the measurement invariance of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in school-attending youth in the UK (N = 437) and China (N = 364). The original 24-item ICU and five shortened versions proposed in previous studies were tested and compared using confirmatory factor analysis in the UK sample. Results indicated that the original ICU was a poor fit in the UK sample. A shortened, 11-item version (ICU-11) featuring two factors (Callousness and Uncaring) provided the best fit and was invariant across gender in both the UK and Chinese samples. Comparisons of the ICU-11 in UK and Chinese school children revealed a similar item-factor combination and factor loadings, but different item thresholds. Findings indicate that the ICU-11 may be a preferable alternative to the original version, but that average ICU-11 scores may have a different meaning in the UK and China.
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Luo J, Wang MC, Zhang X, Deng J, Huang D, Zhou Z. Psychometric Properties of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory Triarchic Scales and Its Short Version in Chinese Male Juvenile Offenders. J Pers Assess 2020; 103:300-311. [PMID: 32319825 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2020.1752700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy encompasses three distinct dispositional components: boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. The current study aimed to validate triarchic construct scales composed of items from the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) in a sample of Chinese male juvenile offenders (N = 613, mean age = 17.14 years, SD = 1.09 years). Although the CFA and ESEM models failed to support the three-factor structure for YPI-based triarchic scores, the convergent and criteria validity of the YPI-Tri and YPI-Tri-S were supported as they demonstrated the expected relation with other psychopathic traits or component measures and aggressive behavior measures. The internal consistency of the YPI-Tri and YPI-Tri-S scores ranged from marginal to good. The findings provide preliminary evidence for the YPI-based triarchic scores and support for the utility of the YPI-Tri and YPI-Tri-S in assessing psychopathy in Chinese male juvenile offenders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Luo
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University
| | | | | | - Jiaxin Deng
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University
| | | | - Zhu Zhou
- Guangdong Prison Administrative Bureau
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