Sex Differences in Antisocial Behaviour
Sex Differences in Antisocial Behaviour
Avshalom Caspi, University of London
Michael Rutter, University of London
Phil A. Silva, University of Otago, New Zealand
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.
- Provides insights into the impact of sex differences on the causes and consequences of antisocial behaviour
- Presents findings from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study
- Written by a multidisciplinary team from criminology, psychiatry and developmental psychology
Reviews & endorsements
"...the book is a pleasure to read." Psychological Medicine
"A particularly attractive feature is a succinct summary of the findings at the end of each chapter and a list of related questions that remain for investigators to address. Anyone researching into or developing policies for antisocial children should have access to this book. Clinicians will also find it of great value. The findings will be quoted for many years to come." European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Product details
October 2001Paperback
9780521010665
300 pages
228 × 153 × 22 mm
0.475kg
2 b/w illus. 28 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study
- 3. Sex differences in the amount of antisocial behaviour: dimensional measures
- 4. Sex differences in the prevalence of antisocial behaviour: categorical diagnostic measures
- 5. Sex differences in physical violence and sex similarities in partner abuse
- 6. Sex and the developmental stability of antisocial behaviour
- 7. Sex and the age of onset of delinquency and conduct disorder
- 8. Sex effects in risk predictors for antisocial behaviour: are males more vulnerable than females to risk factors for antisocial behaviour?
- 9. Sex effects in risk predictors for antisocial behaviour: are males exposed to more risk factors for antisocial behaviour?
- 10. Can sex differences in personality traits help to explain sex differences in antisocial behaviour?
- 11. Sex and comorbidity: are there sex differences in the co-occurrence of conduct disorder and other disorders?
- 12. Do girls who develop antisocial behaviour surmount a higher threshold of risk than their male counterparts?
- 13. Sex differences in the effects of antisocial behaviour on young adult outcomes
- 14. Sex, antisocial behaviour and mating: mate selection and early childbearing
- 15. Evaluating the recommendation to relax the criteria for diagnosing conduct disorder in girls
- 16. Life-course persistent and adolescence-limited antisocial behaviour among males and females
- 17. Priorities for a research agenda
- References
- Index.
