Developmental paths of antisocial behavior from early childhood to adolescence: Important factors for increased risk or resilience

Theory and research have repeatedly emphasized the so-called Robins’ paradox, stating that childhood antisocial behavior precedes virtually all adult antisocial behavior (AB), but that only a minority of antisocial children become antisocial adults. Furthermore, such behaviors tend to become harder to alter with time.

Thus, it is important to examine who suffers the largest risk, why, and at what point in life and why antisocial behavior becomes stable for some children, but not others.

Influential factors suggested in theory are e.g., individual characteristics, parenting strategies, family SES, and deprived neighborhoods.

Using unique existing data from a prospective longitudinal study of appr. 2.000 boys and girls from ages 3-5 (2010) to 14-16 (2021), incl. six data collections with multiple informants, we aim to answer what developmental paths of antisocial behavior can be identified from early childhood to adolescence, how various childhood risk and protective factors and adolescence outcomes are associated to the different paths, and if gender specific patterns can be identified in relation to the above questions.

The suggested project is groundbreaking in the combination of its design and analytical approach and will add crucial knowledge to the existing body of international research needed to identify what children are at greatest risk for future antisocial behavior, who is more likely to be resilient, and how can we most effectively prevent a negative development?