Conduct Disorder Essay Samples

Psychology

Part 1
The stability of antisocial behavior is also related to its extremity. It has been observed by scientists that the most persistent 5% or 6% of offenders are responsible for about 50% of the known crimes involving aggression. Persistent antisocial behavior that does not diminish with age is called life-course persistent behavior. Thus, there are greater chances for those afflicted with life-course persistent behavior to be committing crimes involving aggression. On the other hand, individuals with adolescent-limited behavior indulge in antisocial behavior only during adolescence, after which they stabilize in their behavior. During this period, they are impelled to copy their peers. Such peer-pressured behavior may or may not be aggressive. Thus, life-course persistent antisocial behavior has a greater incidence of aggression, as compared to adolescent-limited behavior. The chances of harming oneself and others are related to the chances of indulging in aggression. Thus, individuals with persistent antisocial behavior are more likely to harm themselves and others as compared to those with adolescent-limited behavior.

Part 2

Adolescence-limited behavior is related to the desire of adolescents to ‘fit in’ their peer group. The desire to fit in leads to behavior in sync with the adolescent peer group. This aspect of fitting in may be non-aggressive, as well as aggressive. On the other hand, life-course antisocial behavior is stable, and owes its origin to defects in the brain and adverse environmental conditions such as upbringing and parentage.

Part 3

Women have a maternal and mothering instinct. Therefore, women are more likely to want children than men. Children are accepted by society more in situations where a couple is married. Poor people might be tempted to have more children, as children can pitch in to contribute to daily labor. Couples who remain childless on account of careers may face social pressures for procreation as middle age approaches. Ethnicity influences the decision for children depending upon the degree of freedom and emancipation: the more emancipated a race, lesser the desire for children.