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Aggressive versus nonaggressive antisocial behavior: distinctive etiological moderation by age.
S Alexandra Burt1, Jenae M Neiderhiser
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. burts@msu.edu
Developmental Psychology
|July 10, 2009
Summary
Genetic and environmental influences on aggressive behavior remain stable throughout adolescence. However, genetic factors influencing delinquent behavior increase with age, while shared environmental factors decrease, highlighting developmental distinctions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Developmental psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Antisocial behavior can be categorized into aggressive (AGG) and delinquent (DEL) types, with distinct patterns and causes.
- Previous behavioral genetic studies have yielded inconsistent results, potentially due to overlooking age-related factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related etiological moderation of aggressive and delinquent antisocial behavior.
- To clarify the differing genetic and environmental influences on AGG and DEL across adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Examined 720 sibling pairs aged 10–18 years with varying genetic relatedness.
- Utilized behavioral genetic analyses to assess influences on AGG and DEL.
- Conducted longitudinal analyses to confirm findings.
Main Results:
- Genetic and environmental influences on aggressive behavior remained stable across adolescence.
- Genetic influences on delinquent behavior significantly increased with age.
- Shared environmental influences on delinquent behavior decreased with age.
Conclusions:
- Aggression and delinquency exhibit distinct etiological pathways.
- The expression of genetic influences on delinquent behavior is age-dependent, increasing during adolescence.
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