Author(s)

Li Yuan ¹, Dongmei Xu ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Academy of Music, Chengdu Vocational University of the Arts, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611430, China

Corresponding Author

Li Yuan

ABSTRACT

This study aims to investigate the current status of psychopathic traits in preschool children and explore the effects of gender, temperament type, and parenting style on these traits. The Child Problem Trait Inventory (CPTI) was used to assess 125 preschool children. Differences in psychopathic traits across gender, temperament types, and parenting styles were analyzed, and regression analysis was employed to explore influencing factors of psychopathic traits. The results showed that boys scored significantly higher than girls in Grandiosity and Deception, Callousness , Impulsivity and Thrill-Seeking, and overall psychopathic traits; the four temperament types showed significant differences in Impulsivity and Thrill-Seeking and overall psychopathic traits; regarding parenting styles, children under authoritarian and indulgent parenting scored significantly higher in overall psychopathic traits than those under authoritative parenting; there were significant correlations between gender, phlegmatic, choleric, melancholic temperaments, authoritative and indulgent parenting styles, and overall psychopathic traits; gender, temperament, and parenting style could predict 32% of the variance in overall psychopathic traits. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding psychopathic traits in preschool children and is significant for early identification and intervention.

KEYWORDS

Preschool children; psychopathic traits; gender differences; temperament types; parenting styles

CITE THIS PAPER

Li Yuan, Dongmei Xu. Investigation on the Current Situation of Psychopathic Traits in Preschool Children. MEDS Basic Medicine (2026) Vol. 4: 14-21. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medbm.2026.040102.

REFERENCES

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