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Examining Psychopathic Traits in Children Using the Child Psychopathy Scale – Revised

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Abstract

Applying the affective dimension of psychopathy to youth has advanced understanding of conduct problems in youth, leading to suggestions that other aspects of psychopathy may do the same. This was addressed in the present study by examining the structure and validity of psychopathic traits in elementary-age children as rated by mothers and teachers on the Child Psychopathy Scale – Revised (CPS-R). Participants were 222 children (80.2% male; Mage = 8.92), the majority (71.6%) of whom met criteria for both ADHD and conduct problems. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a four-factor model consisting of prosocial-empathic (PE), grandiose-manipulative (GM), emotionally volatile (EV), and attentive-planful(AP) factors. The CPS-R demonstrated good criterion validity with well-established measures of child behavior problems and callousness. The EV and AP factors demonstrate incremental validity by moderating the relation between conduct problems and impairment. Latent profiles supported a three-profile solution for mothers and a four-profile solution for teachers, with profiles consisting of one group low, one group moderate, and one high on all measures for both informants, and a fourth group that was high on all measures except CD and limited PE. Profiles differed significantly from each other on callousness and impairment, with limited PE being the best differentiator of youth highest in antisocial behavior based on mother and teacher report. Findings suggest that mothers and teachers may be able to identify children at risk for a more negative trajectory of antisocial behavior, that it is worthwhile to examine multiple psychopathy dimensions (rather than just the affective dimension), and that the CPS-R may be useful to screen for youth who are most likely to display more severe antisocial behavior and impairment.

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Notes

  1. We use these terms to identify conceptually similar traits regardless of what label was used in the original studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the many parents, children, research assistants, and clinical staff who made this study possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, H073, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17036, USA

    Rosanna Breaux, Dara E. Babinski, Sarah M. Haas, James G. Waxmonsky & Daniel A. Waschbusch

  2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Rosanna Breaux

  3. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA

    Michael T. Willoughby

  4. Department of Psychology and the Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    Erika K. Coles, William E. Pelham Jr & James G. Waxmonsky

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  1. Rosanna Breaux
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  2. Dara E. Babinski
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Correspondence to Daniel A. Waschbusch.

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Dr. Babinksi has received research funding from Purdue Pharma. Dr. Waxmonsky has received research funding from Supernus and Pfizer and served on the advisory board for NLS Pharma and Purdue Pharma.

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Breaux, R., Babinski, D.E., Willoughby, M.T. et al. Examining Psychopathic Traits in Children Using the Child Psychopathy Scale – Revised. J Abnorm Child Psychol 48, 251–263 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-019-00591-w

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