Self-Attitude and Socialised Aggressive Conduct Disorder Among Adolescents

Abstract

Children with conduct disorder (CD) comprise a considerable proportion of the work of mental health professionals due to the significant disrupts caused by these behaviours at school and home. CD in childhood is associated with long term negative consequences including development of antisocial and criminal behaviours in later life. Among the multiple categorisations of CD, Socialised Aggressive Conduct Disorders (SACD) is frequently reported among adolescents and particularly troubling area for parents and teachers. With the development of autonomy and identity with advanced cognitive abilities, significant self-conceptions become more complex, differentiated and structured during adolescence. Nevertheless self-attitude forms the cognitive foundation for constructing the identity of an individual, it is reported that the most significant changes and a more accurate expression of self-concept occur in adolescence. It is imperative to note that different individual mechanisms also place a child at risk and affect the normative course of development, of which significant observations underscored the influence of adolescent self-attitude on the onset and prevalence of maladaptive emotional and behavioural problem behaviours. Through the present study the researcher examined the adolescent attitude towards self and Socialised Aggressive Conduct Disorders. The present study conducted on a sample of 380 adolescents, established the relationship between adolescent’s attitude towards self and SACD. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings substantiate the practical/empirical knowledge to parents and educators about the necessity of ensuring an environment that could mould and enhance adolescent’s attitude towards self in a more positive manner.