Behaviors that violate social rules and the basic rights of others are labeled as antisocial. While these behaviors are sometimes simply a mechanism of acting out for children, there could be an underlying psychological issue involved. According to the American Psychiatric Association, conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder are diagnosed in children who present chronic or extreme antisocial behaviors.
Signs
Signs of antisocial behavioral problems are noticed as early as 3 years old in some children. Knowing what to look for is mandatory because the earlier antisocial tendencies are found, the easier they are to treat. Some common signs of antisocial behavior patterns in young children are the inability to form relationships, aggression, inattention, hyperactivity and delayed development. As a child gets older, antisocial behavior tends to get worse, and there will be increased fights, possible poor self-esteem and continued isolation from peers.
Causes
The causes of antisocial behavior in children range from simple to complex. Some less severe cases of antisocial behavior in children stem from peer rejection and other school-related issues. The presence of antisocial behavior is also common in children who have ADHD or learning disabilities. At times, these behaviors are even brought about by parents. In a study conducted by Julia Kim-Cohen of Yale University and other researchers, maternal depression was linked with antisocial behaviors in children by age 7. Theoretically, this happens because depression interrupts the process of adequate care giving.
Solutions
The degree and cause of childhood antisocial behaviors dictates how they are best treated. Early detection is most successful in deterring the development of antisocial behavior into other, more extreme psychological disturbances. Early-intervention programs for school-age children at risk for antisocial behavior problems attempt to steer children away from aggressive and other maladaptive behavior. Teaching your child alternative responses to negative stimuli also helps discourage antisocial behaviors. In the event a child does not positively respond to these methods, therapy and medication are other viable options.
Long-term Effects
Sometimes the presence of antisocial behavior in children is a precursor to delinquency in adolescents and criminality in adults. L. Rowell Huesmann of the University of Michigan and his colleagues found that antisocial behavior in the form of aggression by the age of 8 is the best predictor of criminal behavior over the next 22 years. Childhood tendency toward antisocial behavior is also associated with the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder after the age of 18.
References
- Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association; 2000
- Center for Antisocial Drug Dependence
- "General Psychiatry"; Maternal Depression and Children's...; Julia Kim-Cohen et al; 2005
- "Psychology in the Schools"; First Steps to Success...; Hill M. Walker, et al; 1998
- "Criminal Behavior and Mental Health"; Childhood Predictors of Adult Criminality...; L. Roswell Huesmann, et al; 2002
