Inadequate discipline and poor parental monitoring are key factors in the antisocial behavior. Discipline and the use of positive reinforcement play a central role in the development of a child’s competence.

Arizona State University

Patterson (1982, as cited in Kramer, 2013) argued that parental behavior alters the probability of child responses. Differences in family interactions of nonaggressive and aggressive children were found that aggressive children were twice as likely as nonaggressive children to persist in behavior following parental punishment.  Parent-child interaction is reciprocal and “teach” each other behaviors that lead to child aggression.  


Parent-Child Interaction Patterns

Reid, J. B., Patterson, G. R., & Snyder, J. (2002). Antisocial behavior in children and adolescents: A developmental analysis and model for intervention. American Psychological Association.

References for Development of Antisocial Behavior

Shermerhorn, Chow & Cummings  (2010, as cited in Kramer, 2013) described that when parental conflict effect children and adolescents, there is an increase emotional and behavioral problems. Additionally, during high levels of negative exchange, the children tend to blame themselves for their parent’s conflicts and feel emotionally insecure.


Inter-parental Conflict

Parent training worked better for younger than older children from. The understanding of the importance of intervening early in the developmental cycle, childhood to middle adolescence.

Importance of Parent Training

Set of family intervention using evidence-based strategies in family behavior therapy that addresses:

- Family formation and adaptation (Family Check-Up Model
- Family disruption and maladaptation (Parent Management Training - Oregon Model)
- Family attenuation and dissolution (Treatment Foster Care - Oregon Model)

Oregon Model of Behavior Family Therapy (OM)

Hyperactive & Antisocial Behaviors, in Preschoolers

10-18 months
- Unresponsive Mother & Irritable Infant

24-32 Months
- Child is coercive & unskilled & Ineffective parenting and discipline, ineffective teaching, uninvolved parenting

48 Months
- Labelled “Hyperactive”

72 Months 
- Labeled “Antisocial” & Parents are antisocial

Progression Model

Strong correlation with hyperactivity and antisocial behavior. However, the relationship between the two is mediated by parental discipline practices.

Parent Discipline

Parental beliefs, values, norms, standards, attitudes about parenting are directly related to child outcomes. 

Consequently, failures in parenting such as parental rejection, parental depression, parental anger, parental low self-esteem, negative perceptions of the child are directly related to child deviant outcomes.

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