The Origins of Antisocial Behavior

Antisocial behaviors including bullying, violence, and aggression have been an area of intense interest among researchers, clinicians, policy makers, and the general public because of their grievous consequences on individuals and society. Our understanding of the origins and development of these behaviors in individuals has recently progressed with the application of new scientific advancements and technologies such as neuroimaging, genomics, and research methods that capture behavioral changes in the first few years of life.

The Origins of Antisocial Behavior: A Developmental Perspective provides an overview of the recent research on the development of antisocial behavior and synthesizes this information to inform readers not only of the risks, but also how they interact, to result in antisocial and aggressive behavior. The volume is divided into three sections: advances in neuroscience, advances in behavioral and clinical research, and legal and policy implications. Specific topics include genetic markers and aggressive behavior, the use of fMRI to track adolescent brain development, the role of peer influences on aggression, parenting and temperament, screening tools for diagnosing antisocial behavior in toddlers and adolescents, and how new research will influence interventions, policy, and future study. Experts from genetics, neuroimaging, and developmental science discuss the insights these scientific approaches have provided in understanding how nature and the environment interact in the emergence of antisocial behavior. The Origins of Antisocial Behavior is an important and unique resource that will be of use to developmental scientists, mental health professionals, and policymakers involved in the juvenile justice system.

Christopher R. Thomas, M.D., is Robert L. Stubblefield Professor of Child Psychiatry, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, and Director of Child Psychiatry Residency Training at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Thomas is also Chair of the Committee on Rights and Legal Matters American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Chair of the Psychiatry Review Committee for the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education.

Kayla Pope, M.D., J.D., is the Director of Neurobehavioral Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Dr. Pope is a member of the DSM Oversight Committee and the Council on Children, Adolescents, and Families for the American Psychiatric Association. She is also a Board Member for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and a member of the Juvenile Justice Committee for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.