Psychopathic traits can be identified in children as young as three, according to Australian-led research that measured how youngsters reacted to different facial expressions and neutral or distressing images.

The international team led by the University of NSW developed the diagnostic tool in world-first research that shows very young children can display callous and unemotional traits linked to psychopathy.

More than 200 children aged between three and six took part in the study, which found that 10 per cent showed callous and unemotional traits such as lacking remorse or empathy for the feelings of other people.

Lead author of the study and senior lecturer at UNSW, Eva Kimonis​, said the diagnostic tool would allow children at risk of psychopathy to get earlier treatment.

The children were assessed using a combination of tests adapted for their age and interviews with their parents and teachers.

The tests measured their ability to recognise changing and static facial expressions as well as their reactions to distressing and neutral images, such as a crying child or a book.

"Even very young children with these traits show that difficulty in recognising emotions in others and they are also not engaged by other people's emotions. When they see people in distress it's not capturing their attention in the same way as it would for the healthy population." Dr Kimonis said.

bbabo.Net