Callous-Unemotional Traits and Violent Offending

Callous-Unemotional Traits and Violent OffendingDr. Ira Sommers and Gayle Lilliana Blakely

Overview of Poster Presentation

Introduction Section(1st Column)

Paragraph 1Paragraph 2Paragraph 3Paragraph 4 (Problems with past research)Includes known covariates for violent offendingParagraph 5 (Summary)Paragraph 6 (Purpose)Research QuestionsAcknowledgementsTitle & AuthorsColumn TitleIntroduction SectionParagraph 1Researchers argue that callous-unemotional (CU) traits (i.e., general disregard for others, lacking empathy, shallow affect) delineate a subgroup of conduct-disordered youth that is more likely to engage in violent criminal behavior than conduct-disordered youth without such features (Flexon & Meldrum, 2013; Pardini & Frick, 2013).

Introduction SectionParagraph 2Previous studies have typically created groups of children based on extreme scores on scales that assess CU features and/or conduct-disorder symptoms. These studies tend to support the utility of CU traits for predicting violent and other antisocial behavior. However, the effect of CU is often not significant after controlling for initial differences between groups in antisocial behavior (Frick, Cornell, Bodin, Dane, Barry, & Loney, 2003). Introduction Section Paragraph 3In contrast, dimensional studies (i.e., studies that utilize continuous measures of CU traits and conduct disorder) suggest that CU features add modest predictive validity to impulsivity and past antisocial behavior (Pardini, Obradovi, & Loeber, 2006).

Introduction Section Paragraph 4However, previous research on juvenile psychopathy in general, and CU specifically, suffer from important methodological limitations, to include:inadequate sample sizes (Dyck, Campbell, Schmidt, & Wershler, 2013; Salekin, 2008; Edens & Cahill, 2007) retrospective designs or short follow-up durations (Edens & Cahill, 2007) failure to include other dimensions of psychopathic personality, such as impulsivity (Flexon & Meldrum, 2013) limited inclusion of additional risk factors for violent offending (Vaughn, Litschge, DeLisi, Beaver, & McMillen, 2008)

Introduction SectionParagraph 4 Continuedlimited inclusion of additional risk factors for violent offending (Vaughn, Litschge, DeLisi, Beaver, & McMillen, 2008)Environmental risk factors for violence:Peer deviance (i.e., number of friends arrested; see Baskin & Sommers, 2013)Family arrests (Dallaire & Wilson, 2010) Exposure to violence (both witnessing and victim of violence; see Baskin & Sommers, 2013)Poor neighborhood conditions (i.e., abandoned buildings, gang activity; Turner, Shattuck, Hamby, & Finkelhor, 2013)Individual risk factors for violence:Impulsivity (Castellanos-Ryan & Conrod, 2011)Anxiety (Dallaire & Wilson, 2010; Hammen, Brennan, Keenan-Miller, & Herr, 2008)Lack of psychosocial maturity/inability to regulate emotions (see Hammen et al., 2008)Low IQ (see Baskin & Sommers, 2013)Executive function impairments/lack of inhibitory control (see Pharo, Sim, Graham, Gross, & Hayne, 2011) Early onset problems (i.e., cheating, disturbing class, getting drunk/stoned, stealing, fighting; see Mulvey, 2004)School dropout (see Baskin & Sommers, 2013)Introduction SectionClosing Paragraphs 5 and 6Overall, these issues raise the need for additional research on the relationship between CU traits and violence, while controlling for potential covariates.

The present study aims to test these relationships by extending previous work examining CU traits, in addition to identifying the age of onset for CU traits and violent offending.Introduction SectionResearch QuestionsResearch Questions:Do CU traits predict the early onset of violent offending?Do CU traits predict future violent offending?

Introduction SectionAcknowledgementsAcknowledgements: First, I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. Ira Sommers, for his support, guidance, and encouragement throughout this study. Second, I wish to thank the director of TRiOs Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, Dr. Eilleen Rollerson and her staff, including assistant director Marcela Gallegos and graduate assistants Nickecia Alder and Ashley Karcher, for their continued efforts to see that every McNair scholar achieves success during the program and beyond. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the Summer 2014 McNair cohort, Loyola University Chicago staff, and my peers for their continued friendship, advice, and help. This project would not have been possible without the funding, efforts and support of the McNair program and the amazing people at Loyola.

Materials and Methods Section(2nd Column)

Title & AuthorsColumn TitleParagraph 1 (Pathways)Paragraph 2 (Analysis)Paragraph 3 (IV = CU)Paragraph 4 (Covariates)Paragraph 5 (DVs = Violence)Violent OffendingAge of OnsetMaterials and Methods SectionParagraph 1Secondary Analysis: Pathways to Desistance Project (Mulvey, 2004)Sample size: 1,170 male adolescent offenders Race: 19.2% White, 42.1% African American, 34.0% Hispanic, and 4.6% otherAverage age at baseline (Time 1): 16.0 years (standard deviation [std] = 1.2 years) Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 2Analytic Strategy: Multivariate ApproachesMultinomial logistic regression model was estimated to test the association between CU and onset of violent offending. Negative binominal regression model was used to examine Time 1 predictors (i.e., baseline) of violent offending at Time 2 (i.e., 5-year follow-up). Initially we computed a conditional Poisson distribution model, but because the deviance statistic indicated overdispersion (when the true variance is bigger than the mean) we ultimately used negative binomial regression analyses for violent offending.

Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 3 (IV = CU Traits) Independent Variable: Callous-Unemotional Traits

CU was assessed with a 15-item, 4-point Likert subscale of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (Andershed et al., 2002; see Mulvey, 2004)Items ranged from does not apply at all to applies very well Examples of items indicating CU traits were: I usually feel calm when other people are scared, and I think that crying is a sign of weakness, even if no one sees you The baseline measure of CU (continuous scale) was used in the onset of violent offending analysisFor the 5-year follow-up regression model, a time-averaged (across 6 years) CU variable was computedSubjects were then categorized into three CU groups: Low CU (< mean)Moderate CU (mean - 1 std)High CU (> 1 std)

Materials and Methods SectionParagraph/Graphic 4 Covariates Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Materials and Methods SectionParagraph/Graphic 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Control Variables:Peer DevianceFamily ArrestsExposure to ViolenceNeighborhood ConditionsImpulse Control AnxietyEmotion RegulationIntelligenceExecutive Function Early Onset Problems School Dropout

17Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Peer Deviance(4 closest friends ever arrested)Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Family Arrests(number of family members who resided with participant and who had been arrested)Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Exposure to ViolenceModified version of the Exposure to Violence Inventory (ETV; Selner-OHagan, Kindlon, Buka, Raudenbush, & Earls 1998; see Baskin & Sommers, 2013)13 itemsExperienced subscale: Victim = 6 items (i.e., Have you ever been chased where you thought you might be seriously hurt?)Observed subscale: Witnessed = 7 items (i.e, Have you ever seen someone else being raped, an attempt made to rape someone or any other type of sexual attack?)Baseline measure of ETV used in the onset of violent offending analysis5-year follow-up regression model used a time-averaged ETV measure (mean level based on 6 years of data) Higher scores indicate greater exposure to violenceMaterials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Neighborhood ConditionsAdapted from other large-scale studies of neighborhood functioning (Sampson & Raudenbush, 1999)4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (often)Asked about 21 examples of physical and social disorder in the blocks surrounding their homes (i.e., abandoned buildings, gang activity)Scores were averaged across all time points during the studyMaterials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Impulse ControlWeinberger Adjustment Inventory (Impulse Control scale; Weinberger & Schwartz, 1990) Previous 6 months 8-item, 5-point Likert scale (e.g., I stop and think things through before I act) 1 (Almost Never) to 5 (Almost Always)Higher scores indicate greater impulse control.Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

AnxietyRevised Childrens Manifest Anxiety scale (RCMAS; Reynolds & Richmond, 1985)28 items3 Subscales:Physiological anxiety (10 items; somatic manifestations, sleep difficulties, nausea, fatigue)Worry/oversensitivity (11 items; i.e., obsessive concerns)Social concerns/concentration (7 items; distracting thoughts, fears with a social/interpersonal connotation)Higher scores indicate greater anxiety Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Emotion RegulationAdapted version of the Childrens Emotion Regulation scale (Walden, Harris, Weiss, & Catron, 1995)12 items of the original 33 were used4-point Likert scale ranging from not at all like me to really like meHigher scores indicate better emotion regulationMaterials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

IntelligenceWechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI; Wechsler, 1999)2 Subtests: Vocabulary (42 total items that require the subject to orally define 4 images and 37 words presented both orally and visually) Matrix Reasoning (35 incomplete grid patterns that require the participant to select the correct response from five possible choices)Higher scores indicate greater intellectual ability Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Executive FunctionStroop Color-Word Test (Golden, 1978)The interference t-score for calculated difference between color-word and predicted color-word was used in the regression analyses Higher scores reflect better performance and less interference on reading abilityMaterials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

Early Onset Problems(before age 11)cheatingdisturbing classdrunk/stonedstealingfightingMaterials and Methods SectionParagraph 4 Continued Covariates for Violent Offending and CU Traits (Baseline Measures; see Mulvey, 2004)

School Dropout(yes/no)Materials and Methods SectionParagraph 5 (DVs)Dependent Variables: Violent Offending and Age of Onset Self-reported violent offending. Modified version of the Self-Report of Offending scale (SRO; Elliott, 1990; see Mulvey, 2004) was used at each interview to measure the adolescents account of his involvement in one or more of eight violent crimes (gang activity fights, aggravated assault, carjacking, robbery with weapon, robbery without weapon, shooting someone, shooting at someone, carrying a gun). The dichotomized items were then summed together for the analyses. A sum of the number of types of violent offenses committed (a general versatility or variety score) was calculated for each subject at each interview.Age of onset for violent offending (at baseline). The age of onset for each of the eight violent offenses (mentioned above) were recorded during the baseline interviews. Utilizing the age of initiation data, a three-category variable was constructed: No violent offending Early onset (12 years old or younger) Later onset (13 years old to 18 years old)

Results and Conclusions Section(3rd Column)

Three TablesAnswers to 2 Research QuestionsLimitations and Future DirectionsReferencesTitle & AuthorsColumn TitleResults and Conclusions SectionThree Tables

Results Section of PosterTable 1

Results Section of PosterTable 2

Results Section of PosterTable 3

Conclusion SectionGraphicViolenceEarly onsetFuture offending

PredictResults and Conclusion SectionAnswer to Question 11. Do CU traits predict the early onset of violent offending?

Adolescent males who were high in CU traits were more likely to commit a violent act before age 13, even when controlling for other known risk factors for violence (no violence v. early onset: odds ratio [OR] = .930, p < .001; later onset v. early onset: OR = .968, p < .05)Additional findings: Respondents who engaged in early onset violence (as compared to no violence) had lower levels of impulse control and executive functioning, a higher proportion of friends that were arrested, and lived in neighborhood with more physical and social problems

Results and Conclusion SectionAnswer to Question 22. Do CU traits predict future violent offending?

Respondents high in CU traits were almost twice as likely (OR = 1.79, p < .001) than those with low or moderate CU traits to have committed more types of violent crimes at the 5-year follow-up, even when controlling for individual differences.

Results and Conclusion SectionLimitations and Future DirectionsLimitations.The participants selected for this study did not include female adolescents. The study only included juveniles who had committed serious crimes and who were involved in the criminal justice system. The study did not include all types of violent crimes. Specifically, sexual assault and domestic violence were not among the eight types of violent crimes included in the measure of violent offending. Similarly, there was no distinction between instrumental versus reactive forms of violence. The study did not include substance use as a covariate, a risk factor that is highly correlated with violence.

Results and Conclusion SectionLimitations and Future DirectionsFuture directions. This study serves as a predictive utility of CU traits for violent outcomes.Intervening early in the developmental trajectory of childhood-onset behavioral problems represents an important avenue for preventing later serious aggression and antisocial behavior. Future research should continue to explore the pathways, trajectories and treatments for youth who exhibit early CU traits.

Results and Conclusion SectionReferencesBaskin, D., & Sommers, I. (2013). Exposure to community violence and trajectories of violent offending. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 11, 1-19. Castellanos-Ryan, N., & Conrod, P. J. (2011). Personality correlates of the common and unique variance across conduct disorder and substance misuse symptoms in adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 39, 563-576. Dallaire, D., & Wilson, L. (2010). The relation of exposure to parental criminal activity, arrest, and sentencing to childrens maladjustment. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19, 404418.Dyck, H., Campbell, M. A., Schmidt, F., & Wershler, J. (2013). Youth psychopathic traits and their impact on long-term criminal offending trajectories. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 230-248.Edens, J. F., & Cahill, M. A. (2007). Psychopathy in adolescence and criminal recidivism in young adulthood: Longitudinal results from a multiethnic sample of youthful offenders. Assessment, 14, 57-64. Flexon, J., & Meldrum, R. (2013). Adolescent psychopathic traits and violent delinquency: Additive and nonadditive effects with key criminological variables. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 11(4), 349-369. Frick, P. J., Cornell, A. H., Bodin, S. D., Dane, H. E., Barry, C. T., & Loney, B. R. (2003). Callous-unemotional traits and developmental pathways to severe conduct problems. Developmental Psychology, 39, 246-260. Hammen, C., Brennan, P., Keenan-Miller, D., & Herr, N. (2008). Early onset recurrent subtype of adolescent depression: Clinical and psychosocial correlates. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 433-440.Mulvey, E. P. (2004). Research on Pathways to Desistance [Maricopa County, AZ and Philadelphia County, PA]: Subject Measures, 2000-2010. Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, 1-729. Pardini, D., & Frick, P. (2013). Multiple developmental pathways to conduct disorder: Current conceptualizations and clinical implications. Journal of Canadian Academy Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 22, 20-25. Pardini, D., Obradovi, J., & Loeber, R. (2006). Interpersonal callousness, hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattention, and conduct problems as precursors to delinquency persistence in boys: A comparison of three grade-based cohorts. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 35, 46-59. Pharo, H., Sim, C., Graham, M., Gross, J., & Hayne, H. (2011). Risky business: Executive function, personality, and reckless behavior during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Behavioral Neuroscience, 125, 970-978.Salekin, R. (2008). Psychopathy and recidivism from mid-adolescence to young adulthood: Cumulating legal problems and limiting life opportunities. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 117, 386-395. Turner, H., Shattuck, A., Hamby, S., & Finkelhor, D. (2013). Community disorder, victimization exposure, and mental health in a national sample of youth. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 54, 258-275. Vaughn, M., Litschge, C., DeLisi, M., Beaver, K., & McMillen, C. (2008). Psychopathic personality features and risks for criminal justice system involvement among emancipating foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 11011110.