IS AGE IMPORTANT? TESTING A GENERAL VERSUS A DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR*

ABSTRACTBackgroundLongitudinal, genetically informed, prospective data collected on a large population of male twins (n=1037) were used to examine developmental differences in the etiology of antisocial behavior.MethodAnalyses were carried out on both mother- and child-reported symptoms of conduct disorder (CD) in 10- to 17-year-old twins from the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development (VTSABD) and self-reported antisocial behavior by the twins as young adults from the Young Adult Follow-Up (YAFU) study.ResultsThe following trends were identified: (1) a single genetic factor influencing antisocial behavior beginning at age 10 through young adulthood (‘life-course persistent’); (2) a shared-environmental effect beginning in adolescence (‘adolescent-onset’); (3) a transient genetic effect at puberty; and (4) a genetic influence specific to adult antisocial behavior.ConclusionsOverall, these etiological findings are consistent with predictions from Moffitt's developmental theory of antisocial behavior. The genetic effect at puberty at ages 12–15 is also consistent with a genetically mediated influence on the timing of puberty affecting the expression of genetic differences in antisocial outcomes.

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INDIVIDUAL STABILITY OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD: TESTING THE STABILITY POSTULATE OF MOFFITT'S DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY*

Criminology ◽

10.1111/j.1745-9125.2003.tb00998.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 593-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

ANDREA G. DONKER ◽

WILMA H. SMEENK ◽

PETER H. LAAN ◽

FRANK C. VERHULST

Keyword(s):

Antisocial Behavior ◽

Developmental Theory ◽

The Stability

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Randomized clinical trials, developmental theory, and antisocial youth: Guidelines for research

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579402004030 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 695-711 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

W. GLENN CLINGEMPEEL ◽

SCOTT W. HENGGELER

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Antisocial Behavior ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Developmental Theory ◽

Moderator Effects ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

Developmental Theories ◽

Antisocial Youth ◽

Secondary Analyses ◽

Theories Of Change

The design of effective interventions for antisocial adolescents has been greatly influenced by research-based developmental theories. However, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrating effectiveness of these treatments have contributed minimally to alterations and refinements of these theories. In this article, nine guidelines for research that may enhance the contributions of RCTs to developmental theory are proposed: (1) use mediational analyses to test and refine theories of change; (2) use moderator analyses to test differential pathways to change; (3) assess change processes separately for different types of antisocial behavior; (4) use constructive and dismantling designs to isolate effects of intervention components on targeted mediators and outcomes; (5) assess the time-sensitive nature of change mechanisms with theoretically relevant spacing of multiple assessments and long-term follow-ups; (6) expand the nomological net of developmental theories by assessing intervention effects on nontargeted constructs; (7) use RCTs to disentangle direction of effects questions in developmental theories; (8) conduct secondary analyses of RCTs to assess extra-treatment influences on antisocial behavior; and (9) assess the generalizability of mediator and moderator effects. Use of these guidelines may promote a recursive and iterative relationship between RCTs and theory building. Improved developmental theories may yield more effective interventions, and theory-testing interventions may engender more comprehensive and better informed theories.

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Genetically informative designs for distinguishing developmental pathways during adolescence: Responsible and antisocial behavior

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579400007422 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 779-791 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jenae M. Neiderhiser ◽

David Reiss ◽

E. Mavis Hetherington

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Antisocial Behavior ◽

Environmental Influences ◽

Developmental Theory ◽

Adolescent Adjustment ◽

Developmental Pathways ◽

Stability And Change ◽

Measurement Occasion ◽

Middle Adolescence

AbstractDuring the transition from early to middle adolescence there are numerous changes internal to the adolescent, such as the onset of puberty and changes in cognitive functioning, and external to the adolescent in terms of social reactions to the adolescent and changes in expectations. These changes may also be explained in terms of genetic and environmental influences on change and stability. This study employs the longitudinal sample from both waves of the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD) project (395 families). The NEAD project includes adolescent siblings residing in never-divorced families (MZ and DZ twins and full siblings) and in stepfamilies (full, half, and unrelated siblings). The sample was assessed on two measurement occasions, 3 years apart. On average, the first measurement occasion assessed the families during early adolescence and the second measurement occasion occurred during middle adolescence. Composite measures of parent reports, adolescent self-reports and observer ratings of three constructs of adolescent adjustment (antisocial behavior, autonomy, and social responsibility) were examined in this analysis. Each construct showed a different pattern of genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change, suggesting different developmental pathways for each domain of adolescent adjustment. For example, genetic influences were important for both change and stability in antisocial behavior. Stability in social responsibility, on the other hand, was influenced by primarily genetic factors, while nonshared environmental factors were predominantly responsible for change. Finally, genetic and shared environmental influences contributed nearly equally to stability and change in autonomous functioning. These findings emphasize the importance of considering genetic as well as environmental factors when change in development is examined. Additionally, these data provide an armature for a comprehensive developmental theory for each of these domains of adolescent adjustment.

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New Car, Same Principles: Using Language Development Theories to Drive the Design of Supportive Augmentative and Alternative Communication System Interfaces

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp2.sig12.40 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (12) ◽

pp. 40-54

Author(s):

Jamie B. Boster ◽

Joann P. Benigno ◽

John W. McCarthy

Keyword(s):

Language Development ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Developmental Theory ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Complex Communication Needs ◽

Communication Devices ◽

Development Of Language ◽

Communication Needs ◽

System Interfaces ◽

Language Content

Innovations in technology have resulted in increased use of tablets, mobile devices, and applications as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for children with complex communication needs (CCN). Although research has been conducted on the specific characteristics of AAC technologies, many interfaces remain replications of prior communication devices with little consideration of the features of newer platforms. A greater concern is that these interfaces may not be based on empirical evidence or derived from key developmental language theories. As such, these interfaces may place additional demands on children with CCN instead of supporting their development of language content, form, and use. The purpose of this paper is to discuss potential interface supports for AAC systems that capitalize on current technologies and draw upon key tenets of developmental theory.

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The Dark Tetrad

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000179 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 228-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Janko Međedović ◽

Boban Petrović

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Antisocial Behavior ◽

Second Order ◽

The Other ◽

Negative Pole ◽

Latent Space ◽

Order Factor

Abstract. Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy are personality traits understood to be dispositions toward amoral and antisocial behavior. Recent research has suggested that sadism should also be added to this set of traits. In the present study, we tested a hypothesis proposing that these four traits are expressions of one superordinate construct: The Dark Tetrad. Exploration of the latent space of four “dark” traits suggested that the singular second-order factor which represents the Dark Tetrad can be extracted. Analysis has shown that Dark Tetrad traits can be located in the space of basic personality traits, especially on the negative pole of the Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotionality dimensions. We conclude that sadism behaves in a similar manner as the other dark traits, but it cannot be reduced to them. The results support the concept of “Dark Tetrad.”

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