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Course of Antisocial Behavior during Emerging Adulthood: Developmental Differences in Personality
Daniel M Blonigen1, Andrew K Littlefield, Brian M Hicks
1Center for Health Care Evaluation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine.
Journal of Research in Personality
|January 19, 2011
Summary
Antisocial behavior (AB) and personality traits co-develop in emerging adulthood. Those reducing AB showed significant personality changes, supporting developmental links.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) involves normative changes in antisocial behavior (AB) and personality traits like disinhibition and negative emotionality.
- Limited research has explored developmental personality differences across distinct trajectories of AB during this critical period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if mean-level personality changes, specifically on Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire traits, differ based on the developmental course of antisocial behavior from age 18 to 25.
- To test theories on the co-development of personality and AB.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of a college cohort assessed at ages 18 and 25.
- Analysis of mean-level changes in Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire traits (novelty seeking, reward dependence, harm avoidance) in relation to distinct AB courses (persistent vs. desistance).
Main Results:
- Individuals who desisted in AB from age 18 to 25 showed a greater decrease in novelty seeking and a larger increase in reward dependence compared to those with persistent AB.
- A significant mean-level decline in harm avoidance was observed overall, but this change was not associated with the course of AB.
Conclusions:
- Personality traits and antisocial behavior co-develop during emerging adulthood.
- Specific personality changes, particularly in novelty seeking and reward dependence, are associated with the desistance from antisocial behavior.
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