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Delinquency and impulsivity and IQ: A reply to Block (1995)

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lynam, DR; Moffitt, TE
Published in: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
January 1, 1995

Although J. Block's critique (1995) of the D. Lynam, T. Moffitt, and M. Stouthamer-Loeber report (1993) contains several interesting points, many of his criticisms are not valid and resulted from miscommunications, misunderstandings, and simple preferences. Specifically, the authors believe the criticisms to be the results of mistaking a single hypothesis for an organizing principle, a misunderstanding of the reported path analyses, and a simple preference for impulsivity over IQ as an explanatory construct. An attempt is made to address the misinterpretation through clarification of the predicted relations between IQ, executive dysfunction, impulsivity, and delinquency. The original path analyses are reviewed and are shown to refute not only the original self-control hypothesis (Lynam et al., 1993), as reported, but also Block's more recent version. Finally, evidence marshalled by Block to support his emphasis on impulsive personality over low IQ is argued to have inadequacies from empirical and social policy perspectives.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Abnormal Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0021-843X

Publication Date

January 1, 1995

Volume

104

Issue

2

Start / End Page

399 / 401

Related Subject Headings

  • Clinical Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Lynam, D. R., & Moffitt, T. E. (1995). Delinquency and impulsivity and IQ: A reply to Block (1995). Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 104(2), 399–401. https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-843X.104.2.399
Lynam, D. R., and T. E. Moffitt. “Delinquency and impulsivity and IQ: A reply to Block (1995).” Journal of Abnormal Psychology 104, no. 2 (January 1, 1995): 399–401. https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-843X.104.2.399.
Lynam DR, Moffitt TE. Delinquency and impulsivity and IQ: A reply to Block (1995). Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1995 Jan 1;104(2):399–401.
Lynam, D. R., and T. E. Moffitt. “Delinquency and impulsivity and IQ: A reply to Block (1995).” Journal of Abnormal Psychology, vol. 104, no. 2, Jan. 1995, pp. 399–401. Scopus, doi:10.1037//0021-843X.104.2.399.
Lynam DR, Moffitt TE. Delinquency and impulsivity and IQ: A reply to Block (1995). Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1995 Jan 1;104(2):399–401.

Published In

Journal of Abnormal Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0021-843X

Publication Date

January 1, 1995

Volume

104

Issue

2

Start / End Page

399 / 401

Related Subject Headings

  • Clinical Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology