A Pilot Study of Emotional Response to Time-Out in Children With Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Traits

Abstract

Little research has examined how children with conduct problems and concurrent callous-unemotional traits (CPCU) emotionally and behaviorally respond to time-out. This pilot study examined the distribution and stability of emotions during time-out as well as the association between emotions and negative behaviors. Participants were 11 children ( Mage = 9.8 years) with CPCU who participated in a summer treatment program designed specifically for children with CPCU. Summer treatment program counselors rated each child’s emotion when time-out was first assigned and then as the time-out progressed and indicated whether the child had negative behavior during time-out. These ratings were completed for approximately 30% of time-outs that occurred. Results showed that children were mostly rated as “unemotional” or “calm” and that these emotions were relatively stable throughout time-out. Furthermore, negative behaviors were most common during time-outs when children’s emotions were rated as “amused.” Results provide groundwork for future research to extend upon the methods used in the current study to further examine the emotional and behavioral response to time-out in children with CPCU.

To what extent does punishment insensitivity explain the relationship between callous‐unemotional traits and academic performance in secondary school students?

“…This lack of arousal in response to discipline prevents avoidance learning from taking place, and the child fails to internalise the moral or social norm that his or her parent (or teacher) wishes to convey (Pardini & Frick, 2013). Consistent with this view, antisocial children high in CU traits show less distress when placed in time out than children low in CU traits (Bansal et al, 2019;Hawes & Dadds, 2005). Uncaring or insensitive responses to punishment have also been proposed as a mechanism explaining the link between CU traits and poor achievement (DeLisi et al, 2011;Horan et al, 2016).…”