Etiology of Anti-Social Behaviour

             Society must accept responsibility to control anti-social behaviour among adolescents, in order to limit youth violence. Four theories of child anti-social behaviour are neoclassical, biological, psychological, and the economic/ sociological theory (Hoge & Andrews, 1996). Individuals need to recognize that several factors collectively contribute to a child's delinquency; of which the two most encompassing factors are environmental and biological. Environmental factors are a widely accepted hypothesis concerning juvenile crime and violence. Parental failure, poverty, TV, and location of upbringing are a few recognized instigators of delinquency; however, recent studies have hypothesized the significance heritability and genetics have on a child's response to his/her environment. Research provides support that biological and environmentally based anti-social behaviour may be overcome through social and educational programs aimed at high risk individuals, leaving deterrents and medical treatments as a last resort.
             Despite hesitation from many professionals, genetic acknowledgment will provide the missing piece of information concerning human nature and tendencies. Longitudinal studies show males born with a sluggish version of the gene for monoamine oxidase A, or MAOA, tended to have a higher level of aggression and anti-social behaviour. The MAOA gene is situated on the X chromosome, and is responsible for imbalance in neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine (Bower, 2002). A longitudinal study from New Zealand followed 442 males from age three to eleven. By age eleven 36% of the boys had been mentally, physically, or sexually abused. Although the only 12 % of the abused boys possessed the low-activity MAOA gene, 85%of these boys developed anti-social behaviour. In contrast, boys who inherited a highly active MAOA gene may promote "trauma resistance" (Bower, 2002). Twin and adopti...

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Etiology of Anti-Social Behaviour. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 16:46, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/87806.html