Lillyth Quillan noticed something was off with her baby almost immediately. At just eight months old, with eight sharp new teeth, he began biting her breast while breastfeeding, then laughing in her face. Despite her attempts to stop him, he continued to bite and laugh, forcing her to switch to bottle feeding.
Her son, Alex, whose name has been changed for privacy, exhibited troubling behavior throughout his childhood. He was almost expelled from preschool for hurting other children, and in middle school, he started stealing and selling his parents’ electronics. He even used a gun to commit armed robberies in high school.
Quillan, from an upper-middle-class family in northern California, tried everything to help her son. She sought help from counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, tried various therapies and medications, but nothing seemed to work. When Alex was 14, she suspected he might be a sociopath, and he was eventually diagnosed with conduct disorder, a precursor to psychopathy.
Conduct disorder is characterized by defiance, aggression, and cruelty, affecting up to 9 percent of teenagers. Children with callous-unemotional (CU) traits, like Alex, lack empathy and emotional response, often leading to adult psychopathy. Research in this area is limited, despite the significant costs of untreated psychopathy in society.
Treating adult psychopathy is challenging, but there is hope for children with CU traits. Long-term studies show that with nurturing caregivers and early intervention, many children can lead normal lives. Alex, now 25, has been steadily employed for four years and has a good relationship with his parents.
Psychopathy is a complex condition that involves a lack of empathy, impulsive behavior, and a disregard for rules. People with psychopathy can be calculating criminals, but they may also exhibit impulsive aggression. The condition is more common in men and is often diagnosed using a checklist developed by psychologist Robert D. Hare.
Psychopathy is not included in the DSM-5 but is closely related to antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Children with CU traits have difficulty recognizing emotions, especially fear and sadness, which can lead to harmful behavior. Early intervention and tailored treatments can help children with CU traits develop empathy and improve their behavior.
One effective therapy for children with CU traits is parent-child interaction therapy, which focuses on building warm, rewarding relationships and teaching emotional recognition. Virtual reality environments are also being used to train emotion recognition and regulation in a gamelike setting.
Alex’s journey to recovery involved finding a mentor who helped him see the value of behaving honorably. With the right support and interventions, children with CU traits can overcome their challenges and lead fulfilling lives. It’s essential to diagnose and treat these children early to prevent the development of psychopathy in adulthood.
