Stability of aggression over time and generations.

Abstract

In a study spanning 22 years, data were collected on the aggressiveness of over 600 subjects, their parents, and their children. Subjects who were the more aggressive 8-year-olds at the beginning of the study were discovered to be the more aggressive 30-year-olds at the end of the study. The stability of aggressive behavior was shown to be very similar to the stability of intellectual competence, especially for males. Early aggressiveness was predictive of later serious antisocial behavior, including criminal behavior, spouse abuse, traffic violations, and selfreported physical aggression. Furthermore, the stability of aggression across generations within a family when measured at comparable ages was even higher than the within individual stability across ages. It is concluded that, whatever its causes, aggression can be viewed as a persistent trait that may be influenced by situational variables but possesses substantial cross-situational constancy.Interpersonal aggression is a problem whose dimensions in terms of cost to life and property are obviously staggering. Decades of research into the root causes of aggression have yielded numerous models purporting to explain the ontogeny of different aspects of aggressive behavior. Yet, there is little sign that the responses of either the criminal justice or psychological establishments based on these theories have had much impact. It now seems clear that a major reason for such failures is that aggression is a relatively stable, self-perpetuating behavior that is not readily amenable to change by the time it usually comes to the attention of society.Aggression as a characteristic way of solving

Multisystemic therapy: an effective violence prevention approach for serious juvenile offenders

“…Consequently, criminal victimization may be reduced by changing high-risk behavior patterns such as carrying weapons, staying out all night, and associating with gang members. Second, the perpetration of violence can be reduced by successfully targeting high-risk youth whose families are responsible for the vast majority of crimes in many communities (Wolfgang et al, 1972;West and Farrington, 1973;Huesmann et al, 1984). As Moore (1993) noted: ".…”

Characteristics of girls with early onset disruptive and antisocial behaviour

“…This aggregation of additional problems will clearly impact on the choice of, and ultimately the effectiveness of, clinical interventions for girls. The need for prevention of subsequent antisocial behaviour is further heightened by the likelihood that these girls may develop relationships with antisocial males, become pregnant at an early age, and display dysfunctional, harsh parenting with their own children (Huesmann et al, 1984;Serbin et al, 1991). These factors all point to the need for early, intensive, multi-modal interventions that target specific groups and disadvantaged populations (Bennett and Offord, 2001).…”

The Heterogeneity in the Development of Homotypic and Heterotypic Antisocial Behavior

“…For example, fighting and stealing are considered homotypic antisocial behaviors because they can both be observed from early in childhood into adulthood, but they represent heterogeneous forms of antisocial behavior (i.e., violent versus property-related antisocial behaviors). Homotypic continuity in antisocial behavior reflects the fact that, for example, children who get into physical fights with other children tend to become adults who get into physical fights with other adults [20]. In contrast, heterotypic forms of antisocial behavior describe behaviors that manifest themselves in different ways at different ages.…”