The social dynamics of boys with callous and unemotional traits: Uncooperative and proud of it

This study examined the social dynamics of boys with callous and unemotional (CU) traits when experiencing betrayal by peers and engaging in such betrayal themselves. Participants (n = 90 boys; ages 10–13 years) completed a novel prisoner’s dilemma game in which they could cooperate with, or betray, a computerized co-player. They also reported on their subjective experience of emotions during game-play and were provided with bogus feedback regarding the emotions of their co-players. Boys’ CU traits, conduct problems, and anxiety, were indexed independently via parent reports. Higher levels of CU traits were associated with lower rates of cooperation, independent of anxiety and conduct problem severity. Boys’ CU traits were also uniquely associated with greater pride following their betrayal of a co-player.