Developing Treatments for Antisocial Behavior Among Children: Controlled Trials and Uncontrolled Tribulations

Abstract

The article describes my research on the development and evaluation of psychosocial treatments for children who engage in extremes of antisocial behavior (e.g., aggression, property destruction, theft). I begin with my “story” of how the focus on interventions started as I worked in various settings (rehabilitation facilities, schools, hospitals, and outpatient clinical services) and with children, adolescents, and adults. The main stream of treatment research and findings with antisocial child behavior is highlighted along with tributaries that led naturally from the outcome research. Our trials are complemented by tribulations that apply to evidence-based psychosocial interventions more broadly. Most individuals in need of psychological services in the United States and worldwide receive no treatment. Much can be done right now with novel models of treatment delivery that draw on multiple disciplines (e.g., public health, business, entertainment, economics, robotics and artificial intelligence, and law and social policy). More research on interventions that do not or cannot reach most people in need is quite limited in value to me. Finally (and belatedly) my attention has turned to ways of exerting impact, and for that, evidence-based interventions are necessary but hardly sufficient.