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Biosocial Bases of Violence pp 55–68Cite as

Individual Differences and Levels of Antisocial Behavior

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Part of the book series: Nato ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 292))

Abstract

In considering the interplay between biological and psychosocial processes in the causation of antisocial behavior, the usual approach has been to focus on the causal mechanisms involved in the determination of individual differences. It is important to recognize, however, that that is by no means the only causal question of importance. Policy makers tend to be more concerned with the prevention of the disorders causing social disability than with whether the disorder is shown by this individual or that one. Scientists, too, have needed to study the causal factors involved in either changes in level over time or differences between groups such as those based on gender, age, or country of residence or of origin (Rutter & Smith, 1995). Criminologists sometimes assume that differences in level apply only to aggregated data but, of course, that is not so. Thus, the reduction in level of crime during early adult life applies to individuals as well as to groups. But the differences among individuals in liability to antisocial behaviour provides quite different information. The individual differences concern population variance whereas levels concern overall rates or frequencies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychiatry, MRC Child Psychiatry Unit and Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Michael Rutter

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  1. Michael Rutter
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Adrian Raine  & Sarnoff A. Mednick  & 

  2. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Patricia A. Brennan

  3. Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK

    David P. Farrington

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Rutter, M. (1997). Individual Differences and Levels of Antisocial Behavior. In: Raine, A., Brennan, P.A., Farrington, D.P., Mednick, S.A. (eds) Biosocial Bases of Violence. Nato ASI Series, vol 292. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4648-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4648-8_4

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-4648-8

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