Antisocial behavior in children and adolescents - developmental aspects

The purpose of the paper is to review the most important developmental aspects having a strong implication in antisocial behavior of children and adolescents. The study of aggressive and antisocial behavior included a wide range of behavioral perspectives, cognitive and social ones as well as various disciplines (psychology, psychiatry, sociology, and epidemiology). The mechanisms which were studied along with the occurrence and maintenance of antisocial behavior are also various, implying some aspects that are related to temperament, psycho-physiology, parenting, relationships with peers etc. The antisocial behavior could emerge very often in early childhood and could be influenced by individual factors (genetics, temperament, cognitive level) and environmental factors (family, peer relationships, school), the most important influences coming from family and parenting styles.