Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits – ICU
Measures callous and unemotional traits, including lack of empathy, guilt, remorse, and shallow affect in youth.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits – ICU was developed by Paul J. Frick (2004). It is designed to measure Callous-Unemotional Traits. The scale is intended for use with Youth and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 6 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Callousness, Uncaring, Unemotional.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Callousness | 4 | 1 |
| Uncaring | 2,3,6 | 3 |
| Unemotional | 1,5 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all true, 1 = Somewhat true, 2 = Very true, 3 = Definitely true.
The scale includes 3 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 0. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low CU Traits: 0 – 0
- Elevated CU Traits: 36 – 0
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Varies by sample; consistently demonstrates good construct validity.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.