(PS3-52) Beyond the Surface: Unraveling the Complexities of Psychopathy Traits and Emotion Recognition in Diverse Childhood Populations

Abstract Text:

Objective: This study investigates how psychopathy traits—Grandiose-Deceitful (GD), Callous-Unemotional (CU), and Impulsive-Need for Stimulation (INS)—influence facial emotion recognition (FER) of sadness and fear, as well as visual attention, in children aged 6–11. Consistent with ABCT’s mission to advance scientific approaches to evidence-based therapies, this study aims to address a critical gap in literature by examining the association between psychopathic traits and potential underlying mechanisms that could serve as important intervention targets. Drawing on the Integrated Emotion Systems model, social dominance theory, and dual-process theory, we hypothesized that GD traits align with strategic gaze and enhanced FER, CU traits predict FER deficits and gaze aversion, and INS traits relate to FER inconsistency and scattered gaze. Interactive effects among traits are also explored. Methods & Preliminary Findings: A community sample of 137 children (64% male, 38% White, 62% Black & Other) completed FER tasks using the NimStim set (45 adult faces displaying sadness/fear) while undergoing Tobii Pro eye-tracking. Parents rated psychopathy traits using the Child Problematic Traits Inventory (CPTI). Covariates such as gender, race, Intelligence, and externalizing problems were considered given prior evidence of their association with psychopathic traits, and with FER Age and IQ were associated with fear accuracy (b = .442, p < .001; b = .029, p < .001) in this sample. Our final sample will include N = 150 children in this age range (6-11). We are finishing data collection and analyses will be completed by August 2025. Primary hypotheses will be tested using generalized mixed effects models to account for the nesting of FER traits within subjects.

Conclusions: Emphasizing minority representation, our work aligns with the 2025 ABCT theme, Bridging the Divide: Promoting Rigorous Science and Inclusive Affirming Therapies. By examining the importance of developmental, identity based, and trait-based factors, this study will help elucidate their unique and potentially interactive roles in FER. Full results will be presented in November.