Callous-Unemotional Traits are Associated With Child-to-Parent Aggression

• Author: Hue San Kuay,Lynda G. Boothroyd,Graham J. Towl,Paul A. Tiffin,Luna C. Muñoz
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211049190
• Published date: 01 November 2022
• Date: 01 November 2022
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211049190

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2022, Vol. 66(15) 1603 –1626

© The Author(s) 2021

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sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/0306624X211049190

journals.sagepub.com/home/ijo

Article

Callous-Unemotional Traits

are Associated With Child-to-

Parent Aggression

Hue San Kuay1,2 , Lynda G. Boothroyd2,

Graham J. Towl2, Paul A. Tiffin3,4,

and Luna C. Muñoz5

Abstract

This study examined the relations between callous-unemotional traits and

perpetration of aggression toward parents in two separate studies, while also

considering motivation for aggression and parenting styles experienced among young

people. Study 1 involved 60 parents of children aged between 11 and 17 years old.

The online study found high callous-unemotional traits, as reported by parents, to be

associated with aggression toward both parents. Both types of motivation (proactive

and reactive, as reported by parents) were associated with aggression toward

parents. Study 2 involved 42 youths from an alternative education sample (between

11 and 16 years old). Youths with higher self-reported callous-unemotional traits

reported more aggression toward both parents. Both studies, which had different

reporters and different samples, showed youths with higher callous-unemotional

traits were more aggressive toward their parents. In discussing the results, we note

the importance of including callous-unemotional traits in future research on parent-

directed aggression and in studies on domestic violence more broadly.

Keywords

child-to-parent aggression, callous-unemotional traits, peer aggression, parenting

styles, motivation of aggression

1Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

2Durham University, Durham, UK

3University of York, Heslington, York, UK

4Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for Yorkshire and Humber, CAMHS, York, UK

5Royal Society of Arts, London, UK

Corresponding Author:

Hue San Kuay, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains

Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia.

Emails: huesankuay@usm.my; kuayhuesan@gmail.com

1049190IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X211049190International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyKuay et al.

research-article2021

1604 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 66(15)

Family abuse by young people is not a new phenomenon (Purcell et al., 2014), but to

date, available studies in this area are somewhat limited compared to other types of

violence and aggression that occurs within home settings. At present, a legal definition

of child-to-parent aggression (CPA), violence, or abuse is still lacking. Cottrell (2001),

however, defined this incidence as “any act of a child that is intended to cause physi-

cal, psychological or financial damage in order to gain control over a parent.” Due to

the complexity of parent-directed aggression cases, no one factor is likely to explain

such behavior. Among the factors identified are substance abuse, parenting styles,

mental health issues, peer influence, poverty, and gender (i.e., male viewing them-

selves as more dominant than female) as contributors to the commission of parent

abuse (Cottrell & Monk, 2004).

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits may be one factor that relates to aggression toward

parents. CU traits are described as a group of traits of callousness, lacking remorse

toward others, shallow affect and/or insensitivity toward the feelings of others

(Kimonis et al., 2015). Such traits appear to further explain the early-onset of conduct

disorder, which tend to still be present in their antisocial behavior in adulthood (Burke

et al., 2007; Lynam et al., 2007; Pardini & Frick, 2013). CU traits are not only evident

in children and adolescents (Frick & Marsee, 2006), but they are relatively stable

across these developmental stages (i.e., based on studies that examined young people

over 1, 2, and 5 year periods among children aged 7 to 17 years; Burke et al., 2007;

Frick et al., 2003; Lynam et al., 2009). Not only are CU traits and aggression in chil-

dren and adolescents are correlated (Waller et al., 2017), CU traits also characterize a

group of young people who are more aggressive and have severe antisocial behavior

(Edens et al., 2008; Frick & Hare, 2001; Frick & White, 2008; Ray & Frick, 2020).

Recent studies also found that with the presence of elevated levels of CU traits among

young people with problem behavior formed a “sub-group” of those who are severely

violent, thus difficult to treat (Blair et al., 2014; McMahon et al., 2010; Ray & Frick,

2020). During middle childhood, individuals’ lack of empathy and compassion toward

others might relate to their egocentric behavior and higher tendency to lie, threaten,

and be cruel toward their siblings and friends. As they move into adolescence, they

continue to show violence at school and also toward their parents (Estévez & Góngora,

2009; Garrido, 2005). Since young people with CU traits fail to feel remorse or empa-

thy for peers with whom they are aggressive, they may generalize to hurting their

parents or other people in the home.

Evidently, a study conducted on 9,415 Polish adolescents found that those with

high levels of CU traits were significantly more aggressive and persistent in their

aggressive behavior compared to their peers who did not possess these traits (Perenc

& Radochonski, 2013). Consequently, aggressive behavior are more stable among

youth with high CU traits (Byrd et al., 2012; Frick & White, 2008; Muñoz & Frick,

2007), which shows the importance of conducting assessment on these traits among

CPA perpetrators. In their trait-based model proposed to explain the incidences of

CPA, Kuay et al. (2017) theorized young people who perpetrate aggression toward

their parents into two groups; the first group were called “generalists” who were theo-

rized to be high on CU traits and directed their aggression toward parents and peers as

well as siblings. The second group were the “specialists” who were theorized to be low