Additional Evidence for Meaningful Etiological Distinctions Within the Broader Construct of Antisocial Behavior

Abstract

Extant research has highlighted meaningful distinctions in the development, personality structures, and etiologies of physically aggressive (AGG) and nonaggressive rule-breaking (RB) antisocial behavior (as reviewed by Clinical Psychology Review, 2012). AGG appears to be a highly heritable behavioral dimension that emerges in early childhood and exhibits specific ties to negative emotionality. Although the frequency of aggressive behaviors decreases after early childhood, those who are most aggressive early in life typically continue to aggress at relatively high rates across the lifespan. By contrast, RB demonstrates specific associations with impulsivity, is most frequent during adolescence, and evidences more moderate levels of stability and stronger environmental influences as compared to AGG. The results of new empirical analyses assessing etiological distinctions across development are also presented. The review concludes that future research on antisocial behavior should distinguish between AGG and RB.