DEVELOPMENTAL PATHWAYS IN DISRUPTIVE CHILD-BEHAVIOR

Developmental sequences in disruptive behavior from childhood to adole scence are traced retrospectively and prospectively in two community s amples of boys. Three developmental pathways are distinguished: (a) an early authority conflict pathway, consisting in sequence of stubborn behavior, defiance, and authority avoidance; (b) a covert pathway, con sisting of minor covert behaviors, property damage, and moderate to se rious forms of delinquency; and (c) an overt pathway, consisting of ag gression, fighting, and violence. The overlap among the three disrupti ve pathways is examined. Those boys who escalated in the overt pathway were more likely to escalate in the covert pathway than boys escalati ng in the covert pathway showing an escalation in the overt pathway. E scalation in the authority conflict pathway was not associated with es calation in either the overt or the covert pathways. Boys' rate of sel f-reported delinquency was highest for those in triple pathways (cover t-overt-authority conflict) or in certain dual pathways (covert-overt, covert-authority conflict). However, by age 16 the highest rate of of fending was displayed by those in the triple pathways. The rate of vio lent offenses was also highest for those in the triple pathways and fo r those in the overt and covert pathways. Results from the rate for co urt petitions largely supported these findings. Lowest rates of offend ing were observed for boys in the overt and authority conflict pathway s. Implications are discussed for clinical practice and future researc h.