Callous-Unemotional Traits and Their Implication for Understanding and Treating Aggressive and Violent Youths

This article reviews the current research literature on the development of aggression and callous-unemotional traits. Research suggests there are two functions to aggression, reactive and instrumental, and each has concomitant cognitive and emotional factors associated. Furthermore, callous-unemotio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Criminal justice and behavior 2012-06, Vol.39 (6), p.794-813
Main Authors: Muñoz, Luna C., Frick, Paul J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Aggressiveness
Assessment
Behavior modification
Developmental psychology
Empathy
Guilt
Juvenile offenders
Personality traits
Violence
Young people
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Summary:This article reviews the current research literature on the development of aggression and callous-unemotional traits. Research suggests there are two functions to aggression, reactive and instrumental, and each has concomitant cognitive and emotional factors associated. Furthermore, callous-unemotional (CU) traits (i.e., an absence of empathy and guilt) have been shown to be associated with the instrumental type of aggression. Research on CU traits suggests that there are distinct developmental mechanisms operating in the development of aggressive and violent behavior for youths with and without these traits. These distinct developmental mechanisms have important implications for the assessment and treatment of aggressive and violent youths.
ISSN:0093-8548
1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/0093854812437019