Abstract
BackgroundThe developmental taxonomic theory proposes that there are two subtypes of antisocial behaviour. The first is a neurodevelopmental disorder which emerges in early childhood and follows a life-course persistent course, whereas the second emerges in adolescence, remits in early adulthood and reflects peer processes such as mimicry of antisocial peers. The aim of this review was to evaluate the developmental taxonomic theory in the light of recent empirical research.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive literature review comparing these subtypes of antisocial behaviour based on searches on PubMed and other scientific databases covering the period from 1993 to 2013. We focused on research encompassing psychiatric epidemiology, personality assessment, neuropsychology, neuroendocrinology, genetics, and structural and functional neuroimaging. Sixty one empirical studies were identified that investigated one of these forms of antisocial behaviour separately or explicitly compared childhood-onset and adolescence-onset forms of antisocial behaviour.ResultsEmpirical research provides support for the hypothesis that life-course persistent antisocial behaviour is a neurodevelopmental disorder which emerges in the transactions between individual vulnerabilities and environmental adversity. In contrast to the developmental taxonomic theory, however, empirical findings suggest that severe antisocial behaviour that emerges in adolescence frequently has a negative prognosis and is rarely limited to the adolescent period. In addition, both forms of antisocial behaviour are associated with emotion processing deficits, changes in brain structure and function, alterations in cortisol secretion, and atypical personality traits (such as increased callous-unemotional traits).ConclusionsWe conclude that the developmental taxonomic theory is in need of revision, as differences between life-course persistent and adolescence-onset forms of antisocial behaviour appear to be quantitative, rather than qualitative, in nature. In addition, evidence is accumulating that adolescence-onset antisocial behaviour may also be a neurodevelopmental disorder. To account for the similarities between these groups, despite the differences in their age-of-onset, we propose that the quality of the child's early environment moderates the relationship between individual vulnerabilities and the age-of-onset of antisocial behaviour.
Highlights
The developmental taxonomic theory proposes that there are two subtypes of antisocial behaviour
Moffitt invoked the concept of a maturity gap to explain the behaviour of the AL group – essentially, they wish to be treated like adults, but society treats them as children, so they imitate their life-course persistent (LCP) antisocial peers in a misguided attempt to obtain status and the privileges of adulthood
We focused on empirical studies which distinguished between childhood-onset and adolescence-onset subtypes of CD or between life-course persistent and adolescence-limited forms of antisocial behaviour
Summary
The developmental taxonomic theory proposes that there are two subtypes of antisocial behaviour. Moffitt invoked the concept of a maturity gap to explain the behaviour of the AL group – essentially, they wish to be treated like adults, but society treats them as children, so they imitate their LCP antisocial peers in a misguided attempt to obtain status and the privileges of adulthood (e.g., access to alcohol) These groups are considered to differ qualitatively, rather than quantitatively – LCP antisocial behaviour is a form of psychopathology, whereas AL antisocial behaviour is viewed as virtually normative. We will use the terms LCP and AL antisocial behaviour when considering findings from prospective longitudinal studies, but our default position, especially when describing cross-sectional studies (which make up the majority of the studies included in this review) will be to use the terms ‘childhood-onset’ and ‘adolescence-onset’ CD While these terms are not synonymous, there is considerable overlap between LCP and childhood-onset antisocial behaviour, and between AL and adolescence-onset antisocial behaviour
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