Why are females rarely antisocial and males antisocial so often? This key question is addressed in a fresh approach to sex differences in the causes, course and consequences of antisocial behaviour. The book presents findings from a landmark investigation of 1,000 males and females studied from ages 3 to 21 years. It shows that young people develop antisocial behaviour for two main reasons. One form of antisocial behaviour is a neurodevelopmental disorder afflicting males, with low prevalence in the population, early childhood onset and subsequent persistence. The other form of antisocial behaviour, afflicting females as well as males, is common and emerges in the context of social relationships. The book offers insights about diagnosis and measurement, the importance of puberty, the problem of partner violence and the nature of intergenerational transmission. It puts forward an agenda for research about both neurodevelopmental and social influences on antisocial behaviour.

‘The book leaves one with a strong sense of the interconnectedness of genders and generations in the patterns of antisocial behaviour.’

Source: Young Minds Magazine

‘This book is an excellent example of empirically grounded research in developmental psychopathology … Overall, the book will appeal to a wide readership, from students to seasoned investigators … It asks questions and probes data in a way that truly advances science.’

Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

‘This study has considerable significance both for our understanding of the roots of antisocial behaviour and in the planning of preventive interventions … It is beautifully written and the findings presented with model clarity. … A particularly attractive feature is a succinct summary of the findings at the end of each chapter and list of related questions that remain for investigators to address. Anyone researching into or developing policies for antisocial children should have access to this book … Clinicians will also find it of great value. The findings will be quoted for many years to come.’

Source: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

‘This book provides a riveting description of part of a longitudinal study that took place over two decades with a cohort of 1,000 males and females living in Dunedin in New Zealand … This is an important book in terms of its focus, its careful reporting of key findings and its suggestion for further research … In summary, the book is a very satisfying and disturbing read.’

Source: Journal of Family Studies

'Students of antisocial behaviours concerned with the most robust predictor of crime and violence - sex - have reasons to rejoice: A group of leading experts in the field have published a book entirely dedicated to this topic. … It is required reading for all those interested in antisocial behaviour in children and youth … new students in the field will find an invaluable guide into current research questions and the analytical and methodological strategies to answer them.'

Sylvana Coté

'This book provides an in-depth and thought-provoking analysis of the Dunedin longitudinal study (New Zealand) into adolescent sex differences in antisocial behaviour. … [It] is recommended for specialist academic workers in the field of delinquency such as youth offending team workers, the police and multi-agency locality workers. It would also be useful for academic researchers and research assistants, as a guide to writing up research and may be useful for the library of psychologists who specialise in this type of work.'

Tim Maxwell - Somerset Educational Psychology Service

‘… the book addresses an anomaly that has arisen from two facts about antisocial behaviour which, when considered together, distinguish antisocial behaviour from depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism and other disorders of childhood, namely that there is a male preponderance in antisocial behaviour, and that there is a large increase in antisocial behaviour during adolescence … the book comes to a powerful conclusion … that the more severe, early-onset presentation of antisocial behaviour that is typical of only 5% of males is associated with neuro-cognitive features with probable strong genetic and biological influences. By contrast, females’ antisocial involvement tends to fluctuate more according to circumstances and therefore is more influenced by social factors, notably the socialization influences by male peers … Through its sound methodology and clear description of method and rationale, this must-read book is appropriate for established researchers and/or students interested in prediction studies of the childhood correlates of later health and behaviour outcomes, developmental studies of continuity and change in health and behaviour, and epidemiological studies of the prevalence and incidence of health problems and behaviour problems.’

Carla Sharp Source: Psychological Medicine