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Psychopathy: Theory, Research and Implications for Society pp 161–187Cite as

Callous-Unemotional Traits and Conduct Problems: Applying the Two-Factor Model of Psychopathy to Children

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 88))

Abstract

The concept of psychopathy has a long and prominent history in clinical psychology. Clinical reports spanning several decades describe the psychopathic personality as being characterized by pathological egocentricity, an absence of empathy, an absence of guilt, superficial charm, shallow emotions, an absence of anxiety, and the inability to form and sustain lasting and meaningful relationships (Cleckley, 1976; Hare, 1993; McCord & McCord, 1964). While these personality traits were often accompanied by severe antisocial and criminal behavior, such behavior was neither necessary or sufficient for most clinical definitions of psychopathy (Cleckley, 1976). Due to concerns over the level of inference required to assess psychopathic personality traits and thus the potential for unreliability (Robins, 1978), the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980) and its later revisions (DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) broke with these early conceptualizations of psychopathy in their definitions of Antisocial Personalty Disorder (APD). In these definitions, a severe and chronic pattern of antisocial behavior was both the necessary and sufficient condition for a diagnosis of APD.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA

    Paul J. Frick

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  1. Paul J. Frick
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Douglas Inch Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK

    David J. Cooke

  2. Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

    Adelle E. Forth

  3. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Robert D. Hare

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Frick, P.J. (1998). Callous-Unemotional Traits and Conduct Problems: Applying the Two-Factor Model of Psychopathy to Children. In: Cooke, D.J., Forth, A.E., Hare, R.D. (eds) Psychopathy: Theory, Research and Implications for Society. NATO ASI Series, vol 88. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3965-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3965-6_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-4920-4

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