Abstract
The current study assessed the utility of callous-unemotional (CU) traits for differentiating non-referred female conduct problem presentations in adolescence. The study used an extreme-groups methodology to recruit 45 participants, ages 12 to 18 years old, from a larger screening sample who exhibited various combinations of high and low scores on parent-reported measures of conduct problems and CU traits. Equal numbers of participants were recruited across three groups: a CU-conduct problem group characterized by high CU traits and conduct problems, a conduct problem-only group characterized by low CU traits and high conduct problems, and control participants who exhibited low CU traits and conduct problems. These female participants and their parents completed various rating scales assessing hypothesized social (e.g., relational aggression), behavioral (e.g., hyperactivity-impulsivity), cognitive (e.g., verbal intelligence), and familial (e.g., parenting dysfunction) correlates. Consistent with prediction, a profile analysis framework revealed that CU-conduct problem participants were uniquely characterized by elevated hyperactivity/impulsivity and thrill-and-adventure seeking behaviors. In contrast, conduct problem-only participants exhibited minimal impairments associated with the greater conduct problem research literature. The current findings suggest that the presence of CU traits among female adolescents may be a marker for gender non-normative elevations in disinhibited antisocial behavior that is reminiscent of the male psychopathy construct.
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