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Psychopathy in Children and Adolescents: The Need for a Developmental Perspective

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Abstract

The current paper introduces the special issue on research attempting to extend the construct of psychopathy to child and adolescent samples. Past special sections and reviews have typically focused on the implications of this research for forensic research and practice. The current special issue focuses on topics relevant for integrating this research within the broader literature on childhood psychopathology. Papers included in this special issue focus on the structure of psychopathic traits in youth, the relation of these traits to other important psychopathological and personality constructs in children and adolescents, and the utility of these traits for identifying a distinct subgroup of antisocial youth who differ on important cognitive processes and on the severity and stability of their problem behavior. These empirical works are followed by commentary provided by two prominent scholars who outline the potential importance of the construct for advancing our understanding of childhood psychopathology. In addition, these scholars provide a discussion of important directions for future research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

    Randall T. Salekin Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Paul J. Frick

  3. Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487

    Randall T. Salekin Ph.D.

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  1. Randall T. Salekin Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Randall T. Salekin Ph.D..

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Salekin, R.T., Frick, P.J. Psychopathy in Children and Adolescents: The Need for a Developmental Perspective. J Abnorm Child Psychol 33, 403–409 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-5722-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-5722-2

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