The continuity of behavioral expression among disinhibited and inhibited childhood subtypes

Abstract

This article focuses on issues related to the continuity and specificity/generality of inhibitory and disinhibitory behaviors from childhood to adolescence. Literature pertinent to the stability and predictive validity of inhibitory (internalizing) and disinhibitory (externalizing) behaviors is reviewed, in addition to selected comorbid subtypes, including a “mixed” subtype characterized by high levels of both inhibitory and disinhibitory behaviors. Whereas empirical support for prospective relations typically has been indicated for the continuity and predictive validity of disinhibitory behaviors, this review suggests that a budding literature supports prospective relations for inhibitory behaviors and, to some extent, for the behaviors of a mixed subtype. Data from a relatively large, nonclinical adolescent sample are used to further demonstrate the proposed prospective relations among childhood inhibitory, disinhibitory, and mixed subtypes, and the expression of serious internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescence. Future research directions are proposed that emphasize prospective studies of multiple diagnostic subtypes with both treatment and nontreatment populations.