Sex Differences in Antisocial Behaviour: Conduct Disorder, Delinquency, and Violence in the Dunedin Longitudinal Study

by Terrie E. Moffitt , Avshalom Caspi , Michael Rutter , Phil A. Silva

• ISBN13: 9780521010665
• ISBN10: 0521010667
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-10-01
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Why are females rarely antisocial and males antisocial so often? This key question is addressed in a fresh approach to sex differences in the causes, course and consequences of antisocial behaviour. The book presents findings from a landmark investigation of 1,000 males and females studied from ages 3 to 21 years. It shows that young people develop antisocial behaviour for two main reasons. One form of antisocial behaviour is a neurodevelopmental disorder afflicting males, with low prevalence in the population, early childhood onset and subsequent persistence. The other form of antisocial behaviour, afflicting females as well as males, is common and emerges in the context of social relationships. The book offers insights about diagnosis and measurement, the importance of puberty, the problem of partner violence and the nature of intergenerational transmission. It puts forward an agenda for research about both neurodevelopmental and social influences on antisocial behaviour.

Table of Contents

List of figures	xi
List of tables	xii
Preface	xv
Acknowledgements	xvii
Introduction	1	(9)
The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study	10	(13)
Sex differences in the amount of antisocial behaviour: dimensional measures	23	(15)
Sex differences in the prevalence of antisocial behaviour: categorical diagnostic measures	38	(15)
Sex differences in physical violence and sex similarities in partner abuse	53	(18)
Sex and the developmental stability of antisocial behaviour	71	(10)
Sex and the age of onset of delinquency and conduct disorder	81	(9)
Sex effects in risk predictors for antisocial behaviour: are males more vulnerable than females to risk factors for antisocial behaviour?	90	(19)
Sex effects in risk predictors for antisocial behaviour: are males exposed to more risk factors for antisocial behaviour?	109	(14)
Can sex differences in personality traits help to explain sex differences in antisocial behaviour?	123	(12)
Sex and comorbidity: are there sex differences in the co-occurrence of conduct disorder and other disorders?	135	(16)
Do girls who develop antisocial behaviour surmount a higher threshold of risk than their male counterparts?	151	(8)
Sex differences in the effects of antisocial behaviour on young adult outcomes	159	(25)
Sex, antisocial behaviour, and mating: mate selection and early childbearing	184	(14)
Evaluating the recommendation to relax the criteria for diagnosing conduct disorder in girls	198	(9)
Life-course persistent and adolescence-limited antisocial behaviour among males and females	207	(20)
Priorities for a research agenda	227	(19)
References	246	(28)
Index	274