Aggression and Rule-Breaking: Heritability and Stability of Antisocial Behavior Problems in Childhood and Adolescence

• NCJ Number: 243864
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 41 Issue: 5 Dated: September - October 2013 Pages: 285-291
• Author(s): Sharon Niv; Catherine Tuvblad; Adrian Raine; Laura A. Baker
• Date Published: October 2013
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using behavioral genetics biometric modeling, this longitudinal study of twins examined the structure of genetic and environmental influences on aggression and rule-breaking, so as to identify any change or stability from childhood to mid-adolescence.

Abstract

The study's primary finding is that aggression and rule-breaking are both influenced by a common factor of general antisocial behavior through which they share genetic and environmental influences. In addition, at both time points, both aggression and rule-breaking had influences that were unique (not shared between them or across time). Also, the study determined that males and females did not significantly differ in these influences, which is consistent with previous findings (Burt, 2009; Rhee and Waldman, 2002). It is important that when constraints were applied to the model in order to identify the influences that were entirely novel, the only significant form of influence was genetic rather than environmental. This is consistent with past findings that change in overall antisocial behavior is attributable to genetic factors that are activated during puberty. These common findings highlight the significance of adolescent development, both biologically and socially, on the etiology of antisocial behavior. The finding of a latent pathway to adolescent antisocial behavior supports the hypothesis that there is a common thread between different forms of antisocial behavior, which are jointly influenced by a set of genetic and environmental circumstances that develop in unison. The research conducted behavioral assessments at two time points: age 9-10 years old and 14-15 years old. The research design used behavioral genetics biometric modeling. The longitudinal structure of influences was analyzed. The twins participated in clinical interviewing and neurocognitive testing and psychophysiological testing. Just over 750 families living in greater Los Angeles participated in the study. 8 tables, 1 figure, and 29 references