Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: a developmental taxonomy.
Journal Article (Review;Journal Article)
A dual taxonomy is presented to reconcile 2 incongruous facts about antisocial behavior: (a) It shows impressive continuity over age, but (b) its prevalence changes dramatically over age, increasing almost 10-fold temporarily during adolescence. This article suggests that delinquency conceals 2 distinct categories of individuals, each with a unique natural history and etiology: A small group engages in antisocial behavior of 1 sort or another at every life stage, whereas a larger group is antisocial only during adolescence. According to the theory of life-course-persistent antisocial behavior, children's neuropsychological problems interact cumulatively with their criminogenic environments across development, culminating in a pathological personality. According to the theory of adolescence-limited antisocial behavior, a contemporary maturity gap encourages teens to mimic antisocial behavior in ways that are normative and adjustive.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Moffitt, TE
Published Date
- October 1993
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 100 / 4
Start / End Page
- 674 - 701
PubMed ID
- 8255953
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1939-1471
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0033-295X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1037/0033-295x.100.4.674
Language
- eng