Anti-Social Behavior in Children and Adolescents

All children experience bad days, when irritability or anger get the best of them. When actions such as fighting, stealing or lying become frequent or intensely expressed, there is a possibility of a clinically anti-social behavior disorder, according to the website of the International Honor Society in Psychology. When anti-social behaviors interfere with a child̵7;s or adolescent̵7;s ability to function normally at home or at school, parents should consider talking with a doctor or counselor.

  1. Characteristics

    • Anti-social behavior can be observed in very young children, according to PreventionAction.org. For example, a toddler might laugh when something bad happens to another child. Researchers call this the difference between ̶0;concern̶1; and ̶0;disregard.̶1; Having lower levels of empathy links with anti-social behavior. Other related characteristics of anti-social behavior include having aggression toward people or animals, destroying property, being deceitful, stealing or violating rules, according to the article, ̶0;Childhood Anti-Social Behavior and Adolescent Alcohol Abuse Disorders,̶1; released by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Vandalism, setting fires, alcoholism and high-risk activities also signify anti-social behavior, according to the Encyclopedia of Children̵7;s Health.

    Causes

    • The Encyclopedia of Children̵7;s Health states that coercive actions within families, the community or school settings contribute to anti-social behavior in children and adolescents. Being exposed to violence or deviant peers can also increase the likelihood that a child will develop anti-social tendencies. The prefrontal cortex in the brain might also impact the development of anti-social behavior. A mother̵7;s drug use during pregnancy, prenatal brain damage or low birth weight could cause children to become anti-social. Home-life factors include parental substance use, corporal punishment or financial hardship.

    Effects

    • Unfortunately, anti-social behavior sometimes leads to more serious problems for children and adolescents. Anti-social behavior has been linked with academic struggles, substance experimentation or abuse, relationship problems and higher hospitalization rates, according to the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice. PreventionAction.org states that anti-social behaviors in young children -- before they begin preschool -- predict more anti-social teenaged behavior. Anti-social behavior can be linked with more serious disorders, including conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism publication. Conduct disorder can culminate in criminal activity or serious disease, such as heart disease or cardiovascular disease, according to the International Honor Society in Psychology website.

    Prevention

    • Because anti-social behavior in children and adolescents can have far-reaching effects into adulthood, parents and schools can work in tandem to prevent or reduce it. Parents can encourage students to participate in school-wide programs focused on conflict resolution, emotional literacy and anger management skills, according to the website of the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice. If necessary, parents might enroll children or teens in small-group or private counseling. At home, parents might help children develop problem-solving skills to practice negotiating social situations.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Toughen Up Your Toddler
      Too much indulgence is not likely to teach your toddler to be tough. It is completely natural for you to want to protect your little one, to avert crisis and to prevent him from failing at anything he tries, but in doing so, you are not helping him.
    • How to Make an Imaginative Peanut Butter Sandwich for Kids
      Two pieces of white bread held together by a swipe of peanut butter just cant match the creative marketing of less-healthful commercial concoctions. So what can you do to jazz up this staple for children picky about what they eat? Be creative and hav
    • How to Get Kids to Go to Bed
      When your little ones dont want to go to bed or you find them sleeping in your bed there are a few steps you can take to make them more comfortable in going to bed. Instructions 1 Set up a bed time routine with your child. The routi