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Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years

Publication ,  Journal Article
Moffitt, TE; Caspi, A; Dickson, N; Silva, P; Stanton, W
Published in: Development and Psychopathology
January 1, 1996

We report data that support the distinction between childhood-onset and adolescent-onset type conduct problems. Natural histories are described from a representative birth cohort of 457 males studied longitudinally from age 3 to 18 years. Childhood- and adolescent-onset cases differed on temperament as early as age 3 years, but almost half of childhood-onset cases did not become seriously delinquent. Type comparisons were consistent with our contention that males whose antisocial behavior follows a life-course-persistent path differ from males who follow an adolescence-limited path. As adolescents, the two types differed on convictions for violent crime, personality profiles, school leaving, and bonds to family. These differences can be attributed to developmental history because the two groups were well matched on measures of antisocial conduct at age 18 years: parent-reports, self-reports, and adjudication records. By age 18 years, many conduct-problem boys had encountered factors that could ensnare them in an antisocial future: substance dependence, unsafe sex, dangerous driving habits, delinquent friends, delinquent perceptions, and unemployment. Implications for theory, research design, prevention, and therapeutic treatment of conduct problems are highlighted.

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Published In

Development and Psychopathology

DOI

ISSN

0954-5794

Publication Date

January 1, 1996

Volume

8

Issue

2

Start / End Page

399 / 424

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

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Moffitt, T. E., Caspi, A., Dickson, N., Silva, P., & Stanton, W. (1996). Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years. Development and Psychopathology, 8(2), 399–424. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579400007161
Moffitt, T. E., A. Caspi, N. Dickson, P. Silva, and W. Stanton. “Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years.” Development and Psychopathology 8, no. 2 (January 1, 1996): 399–424. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579400007161.
Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Dickson N, Silva P, Stanton W. Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years. Development and Psychopathology. 1996 Jan 1;8(2):399–424.
Moffitt, T. E., et al. “Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years.” Development and Psychopathology, vol. 8, no. 2, Jan. 1996, pp. 399–424. Scopus, doi:10.1017/s0954579400007161.
Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Dickson N, Silva P, Stanton W. Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years. Development and Psychopathology. 1996 Jan 1;8(2):399–424.
Journal cover image

Published In

Development and Psychopathology

DOI

ISSN

0954-5794

Publication Date

January 1, 1996

Volume

8

Issue

2

Start / End Page

399 / 424

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology