Abstract
A dual taxonomy is presented to reconcile 2 incongruous facts about antisocial behavior: (a) It shows impressive continuity over age, but (b) its prevalence changes dramatically over age, increasing almost 10-fold temporarily during adolescence. This article suggests that delinquency conceals 2 distinct categories of individuals, each with a unique natural history and etiology: A small group engages in antisocial behavior of 1 sort or another at every life stage, whereas a larger group is antisocial only during adolescence. According to the theory of life-course-persistent antisocial behavior, children's neuropsychological problems interact cumulatively with their criminogenic environments across development, culminating in a pathological personality. According to the theory of adolescence-limited antisocial behavior, a contemporary maturity gap encourages teens to mimic antisocial behavior in ways that are normative and adjustive.
Keywords
PsychologyNormativeAntisocial personality disorderDevelopmental psychologyPsychopathyLife course approachJuvenile delinquencyNeuropsychologyPersonalityPoison controlInjury preventionSocial psychologyCognitionPsychiatryMedicine
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1993
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 100
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 674-701
- Citations
- 9713
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Terrie E. Moffitt
(1993).
Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy..
Psychological Review
, 100
(4)
, 674-701.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.100.4.674
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1037/0033-295x.100.4.674