NCJ Number
227206
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 36 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 481-493
Date Published
May 2009
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined associations between psychopathic traits and two subtypes of aggression: proactive and reactive, in a child psychiatric inpatient population, and examined these associations in a clinical inpatient population of children and by comparing caregiver and child reports of proactive and reactive aggression.
Abstract
Results of the study indicate a link between both proactive and reactive aggression and dimensions of pychopathic characteristics. However, different patterns of associations were observed, depending on the informant. The findings contribute to a growing body of literature suggesting the importance of identifying proactively and reactively aggressive youth who may be at risk for more severe problem behaviors. Research has shown that childhood aggression is a developmental precursor to problem behavior in adolescence and adulthood, including delinquency, violent antisocial behavior, substance use, depression, and suicide. This study examined relations between caregiver- and child-reported proactive and reactive aggression and psychopathic characteristics in a sample of 105 children ranging from 6 to 12 years of age who were admitted to a child psychiatric inpatient facility. The relations between proactive/reactive aggression and psychopathic traits among a psychiatric inpatient population were chosen to ensure the inclusion of serious aggressive children, given that these children are at the greatest risk for an unremitting course of aggression and psychopathic characteristics. Tables and references