Extreme callous-unemotional traits strongly correlate with genetic influences, while environmental influences do not significantly affect extreme CU. 

Heritability Vs. Environmental Origins of Psychopathy

Luk, E. S., Staiger, P. K., Wong, L., & Mathai, J. (1999). Children who are cruel to animals: A revisit. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33(1), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1614.1999.00528.x 

 Children who are cruel to animals: A revisit

- Fire-setting 
- Cruelty to animals 
- Cruelty toward peers and parents
- Bullying 
- Manipulation 

Strong Indicators of Early Severe Anti-social Development 

Individuals with extreme callous-unemotional traits (Psychopathy) start engaging in destructive and manipulative behaviors in childhood and continue to offend across a lifetime. 

Skidmore College

Child psychopathy is difficult to define concretely; however, research shows there are two factors important in recognizing psychopathic tendencies in children:
- conduct problems (CP) and impulsivity
- callous-unemotional factor (CU)

Factors of Child Psychopathy

Viding, E., Blair, R. J., Moffitt, T. E., & Plomin, R. (2005). Evidence for substantial genetic risk for psychopathy in 7-year-olds. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(6), 592–597. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00393.x 

Evidence for substantial genetic risk for psychopathy in 7-year-olds

The callous-unemotional (CU) factor can be described as impulsivity, deviance, and inflated self-importance. CU factor can also be described as a lack of concern for others’ feelings, disregard for responsibilities, insincerity, lacking guilt, lying, and shallow behavior. 

Callous-Unemotional Factor

Conduct problems and impulsivity in child psychopathy were later studied as combinations of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD). Studies show the combination of symptoms of ADHD, ODD/CD, and exhibiting high callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children are more likely to have psychopathic tendencies.

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