Callous-unemotional traits, social preference and aggression among justice-involved adolescents in West Malaysia

Callous-unemotional traits have been widely associated with aggression among adolescents. Researchers have also studied poor social preference leading to psychopathic traits and aggression respectively. Despite the breadth of previous findings, it is not well established as to whether the Uncaring, Callousness, and Unemotional factors of callous-unemotional traits would predict reactive aggression and proactive aggression. In addition, the role of social preference or adolescent peer likability on the interrelationships between callous-unemotional traits and aggression is unclear. As adolescents spend much of their time with their peers, finding out adolescents’ perceptions is vital. With the above research gaps in mind, this study: (1) Examined Uncaring, Callousness, Unemotional, reactive aggression, and proactive aggression together in a single model and (2) investigated the moderating role of social preference on the hypothesized model. Consistent with the study objectives, 168 juveniles aged 12 to 18-years old from selected approved schools located throughout West Malaysia were sampled via the two-stage cluster and simple random sampling method. The respondents completed self-report measures representing the study variables of Uncaring, Callousness, Unemotional, social preference, reactive aggression, and proactive aggression. The two-stage Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique was used to test the proposed model of this study. Firstly, the structural model (X2(60) = 100.309, p < .01, normed X2 = 1.672, GFI = .915, CFI = 960, RMSEA = .063) revealed direct links from the Callousness factor of the callous-unemotional traits to reactive aggression and proactive aggression, but not for the Uncaring and Unemotional factors. Secondly, the multi-group analyses tested for the moderating effect of social preference on callous-unemotional traits towards aggression. Further Critical Ratio Differences (CRD) analyses of the model revealed that low social preference (β = .35, p < .05) and moderate social preference (β = .20, p > .05); and low social preference (β = .35, p < .05) and high social preference (β = .25, p > .05) levels moderated the relationship between the Callousness factor and reactive aggression. In addition, low social preference (β = .38, p < .05) and high social preference (β = .40, p > .05); and moderate social preference (β = .31, p < .05) and high social preference (β = .40, p > .05) levels moderated the relationship between the Callousness factor and proactive aggression. Thus, social preference moderated the relationships of Callousness on both reactive aggression and proactive aggression. However, the overall moderation model only approached significance. Social preference did not moderate all other relationships. This study has redefined the mechanisms of how social preference actually affected the relationship between Callousness, reactive aggression, and proactive aggression. Interventions should be targeted at peer rejected individuals who have a calloused attitude toward people or things, possibly leading to aggression.

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