Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Feb 3:11:9-20.
doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S151699. eCollection 2020.

Does the Interplay of Callous-Unemotional Traits and Moral Disengagement Underpin Disruptive Behavior? A Systematic Review

Marinella Paciello  1 , Giulia Ballarotto  2 , Luca Cerniglia  1 , Pietro Muratori  3
Affiliations
Review

Does the Interplay of Callous-Unemotional Traits and Moral Disengagement Underpin Disruptive Behavior? A Systematic Review

Marinella Paciello et al. Adolesc Health Med Ther. .

Abstract

Disruptive behavior could represent an (un)moral behavioral component of multi-dimensional construct of morality that includes affective and cognitive aspects. Thus, it is pivotal to investigate their interplay between affective and cognitive processes the better to understand how to intervene to contrast disruptive behavior and its antisocial outcomes. The present review has examined the relationship between affective and cognitive processes implied in moral functioning by focusing on callous-unemotional traits (CU) and moral disengagement. Starting from 1005 records identified by PsycINFO, Pubmed, and Pubpsych, only 13 studies have been selected. These studies show different theoretical approaches and methodologies and put in evidence the nuances of possible interactions of CU and moral disengagement during adolescence based on different research field. Overall, most of the scholars seem to conclude that different interplay can be plausible, suggesting that it is likely that during the adolescence the influence of moral disengagement and CU is reciprocal and longitudinal. Specifically, in adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders CU and moral disengagement can move together in organizing and becoming chronic of antisocial affective-cognitive system, and in particular moral disengagement may give a free way to engage in disruptive behavior.

Keywords: adolescence; callous-unemotional traits; disruptive behavior; moral disengagement; morality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram
Figure 2
Figure 2
Moral disengagement moderates the relationship between CU and externalizing behavior.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Moral disengagement mediates the relationship between CU traits and externalizing behaviors.
Figure 4
Figure 4
CU traits mediated the relationship between self-serving cognitions and antisocial behaviors.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Externalizing behaviors predict moral disengagement and CU.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Model found in the study of Muratori et al.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Burt SA, Hyde LW, Frick PJ, Jaffee SR, Shaw DS, Tremblay R. Commentary: childhood conduct problems are a public health crisis and require resources: a commentary on Rivenbark et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018;59:711–713. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12930 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Steiner H, Remsing L. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007;46(1):126–141. doi:10.1097/01.chi.0000246060.62706.af - DOI - PubMed
    1. Murrihy RC, Kidman AD, Ollendick TH, eds. Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth. New York: Springer Science & Business Media; 2010.
    1. Fergusson DM, John Horwood L, Ridder EM. Show me the child at seven: the consequences of conduct problems in childhood for psychosocial functioning in adulthood. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2005;46(8):837–849. doi:10.1111/jcpp.2005.46.issue-8 - DOI - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Text rev Washington, DC: Author; 2000: 223–234.

LinkOut - more resources