The Emergence of Behavioral Problems During the First Decade of Life: Post-genomic Era Considerations

• In Event: New Directions in Self-Control Research

Abstract

Criminology has a rich tradition of identifying the factors associated with adolescent delinquency. Recently, scholars such as Cullen (2011) have called for an expansion of the criminological focus to include the first decade of life. While criminal behavior does not emerge until well into the second decade of the life course, problem behavior emerges during the first few years after birth and is a robust correlate of criminality. Given these observations, the current study drew on a sample of twin children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) and analyzed the associations between childhood self-control/-regulation, parental use of spankings, and early problem behavior. Statistical techniques that are well established in the psychological and behavioral genetic arenas were employed. Overall, the findings show that the relationships among self-control/-regulation, spanking, and problem behavior are highly nuanced in that multiple explanations for their inter-correlations appear to fit the data. Genetic influences accounted for variance in each variable and even explained a portion of the covariance among the different variables, but the causal associations remain questionable.

Author

• J.C. Barnes, University of Cincinnati