Can a laboratory measure of emotional processing enhance the statistical prediction of aggression and delinquency in detained adolescents with callous-unemotional traits?
In this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether the combination of the presence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits and emotional deficits to distressing stimuli, assessed by a computerized dot-probe task, enhanced the statistical prediction of aggression and delinquency in a sample of 88 detained and predominantly African-American (68%) adolescents (M age = 15.57; SD = 1.28). Overall, self-reported CU traits were associated with self-report measures of aggression and delinquency, but not with official records of arrests. However, there was an interaction between CU traits and emotional deficits for predicting self-reported aggression, self-reported violent delinquency, and a record of violent arrests. Youth high on CU traits and who showed a deficit in their responses to visual depictions of distress showed the highest levels of aggression and violent delinquency.
Kimonis
Eva R
ER
Department of Psychology & Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, 3325 Social Ecology II, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA. ekimonis@uci.edu
Frick
Paul J
PJ
Munoz
Luna C
LC
Aucoin
Katherine J
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D011386:Projective Techniques; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*