Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T19:00:02.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The role of social context in the prevention of conduct disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2008

John D. Coie*
Affiliation:
Duke University
Marlene R. Jacobs
Affiliation:
Duke University
*
Address correspondence to: John D. Coie, Department of Psychology, Social and Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0085.

Abstract

Two major transitions – initial school entry and transition to middle school – are emphasized as the points in development most amenable to preventing conduct disorder. As a complement to Reid's analysis of the child and family foci for prevention efforts, this paper discusses the importance of considering social context factors in prevention. In the early school years, peers inadvertently reinforce aggressive and coercive behavior and, thus, contribute to the coercive cycle Patterson describes in families. Middle schools in inner-city contexts have peer social network characteristics that also support delinquent and violent behavior more directly, in contrast to the general suppositions of social control theories of delinquency. The impact of neighborhoods and the larger societal tolerance of violence reflected in the media are also discussed. Prevention strategies for addressing these contextual factors at both developmental periods are outlined in the paper.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beasley, R. W., & Antunes, G. (1974). The etiology of urban crime: An ecological analysis. Criminology, 11, 439461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, V. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32, 513531.Google Scholar
Cairns, R. B., Cairns, B. D., & Neckerman, H. J. (1989). Early school dropout: Configurations and determinants. Child Development, 60, 14371452.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cialdini, R. B. (1985). Influence: Science and practice. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman & Company.Google Scholar
Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (1990). Peer group behavior and social status. In Asher, S. R. & Coie, J. D. (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood(pp. 1759). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., Terry, R., & Wright, V. (1991). The role of aggression in peer relations: An analysis of aggression episodes in boy's play groups. Child Development, 62, 812826.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coie, J. D., Terry, R., & Zakriski, A. (1992). Early adolescent social influences on delinquent behavior. Paper presented at the Society for Life History Research, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Costanzo, P. R. (1992). External socialization and the development of adaptive individuation and social connection. In Ruble, D., Costanzo, P., & Oliveri, M. (Eds.). The social psychology of mental health. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Patterson, G. R., Stoolmiller, M., & Skinner, M. L. (1991). Family, school, and behavioral antecedents to early adolescent involvement with antisocial peers. Developmental Psychology, 27, 172180.Google Scholar
Dodge, K. A. (1980). Social Cognition And Children's Aggressive Behavior. Child Development, 51, 162170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dodge, K. A., & Coie, J. D. (1987). Social-information processing factors in reactive and proactive aggression in children's peer groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 11461158.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Donovan, J. E., & Jessor, R. (1985). Structure of problem behavior in adolescence and young adulthood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53(6), 890904.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elliot, D. S., Huzinga, D., & Ageton, S. S. (1985). Explaining delinquency and drug use. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Farrington, D. P., Ohlin, L. E., & Wilson, J. Q. (1986). Understanding and controlling crime: Toward a new research strategy. New York: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fingerhut, L. A., & Kleinman, J. C. (1989). Firearm mortality among children and youth. Advance data: From vital health statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics. Publication No. 178.Google Scholar
Furstenberg, F. F. Jr. (1990). How families manage risk and opportunity in dangerous neighborhoods. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Garbarino, J., & Sherman, D. (1980). High-risk neighborhoods and high-risk families: The ecology of child maltreatment. Child Development, 51, 188198.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hawkins, J. D., & Weiss, J. G. (1985). The social development model: An integrated approach to delinquent prevention. Journal of Primary Prevention, 6, 7397.Google Scholar
Heath, L., Bresdin, L. B., & Rinaldi, R. C. (1989). Effects of media violence on children: A review of the literature. Archives of General Psychiatry, 46, 376379.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Huesmann, L., & Malamuth, N. M. (1986). Media violence and antisocial behavior: An overview. Journal of Social Issues, 42(3), 16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kazdin, A. E. (1987). Conduct disorders in childhood and adolescence. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Loeber, R.Wung, P., Keenan, K., Giroux, B., Stouthamer-Loeber, M., Van Kammen, W. B., & Maughan, B. (1993). Developmental pathways in disruptive child behavior. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 103134.Google Scholar
Lynn, L. E. Jr., & McGeary, M. G. H. (Eds.). (1990). Inner-city poverty in the U.S. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Malson, M. (1992). Contesting context: Black single mothers achieving against the odds. Unpublished manuscript, Duke University, Durham, NC.Google Scholar
Mishel, W. (1984). Processes in delay of gratification. In Berkowitz, L. (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 7). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Mischel, W. (1981). Objective and subjective rules for delay of gratification. In Lens, W. (Ed.), Cognitions in human motivation and learning. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Mladenka, K., & Hill, K. (1976). A reexamination of the etiology of urban crime. Criminology, 13, 491506.Google Scholar
Owens, D. J., & Strauss, M. A. (1975). The social structure of violence in children and approval of violence as an adult. Aggressive Behavior, 1, 193211.Google Scholar
Parkhurst, J. T., & Asher, S. R. (1992). Peer rejection in middle school: Subgroup differences in behavior, loneliness, and interpersonal concerns. Developmental Psychology, 28, 231241.Google Scholar
Patterson, C. J., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Griesler, P. C. (1990). Children's perceptions of self and of relationships with others as a function of sociometric status. Child Development, 61, 13351349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patterson, G. R. (1982). Coercive family process. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Patterson, G. R., Littman, R. A., & Bricker, W. (1967). Assertive behavior in children: A step toward a theory of aggression. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 32 (5, Serial No. 113).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perry, D. G., Perry, L. C., & Rasmussen, P. (1986). Cognitive social learning mediators of aggression. Child Development, 57, 700711.Google Scholar
Rabiner, D. L., Keane, S. P., & Mackinnon, C. (in press). Children's beliefs about familiar and unfamiliar peers in relation to their sociometric status Child Development.Google Scholar
Ramey, C. T., & Ramey, S. L. (1990). Intensive educational intervention for children of poverty. Intelligence, 14(1), 19.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N. (1978). Sturdy childhood predictors of adult antisocial behavior: Replications from longitudinal studies. Psychological Medicine, 8, 611622.Google Scholar
Rutter, M., Maughan, B., Mortimore, P., Ouston, J., & Smith, A. (1979). Fifteen-thousand hours: Secondary schools and their effects on children. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Sampson, R. J. (1993). The community context of violent crime. In Wilson, W. J. (Ed.), Sociology and the public agenda. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Schorr, L. B. (1988). Within our reach: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage. New York: Anchor Books.Google Scholar
Shakoor, B., & Chalmers, D. (1991). Co-victimization of African American children who witness violence: Effects on cognitive, emotion, and behavioral development. Journal of the National Medical Association, 83(3), 233237.Google ScholarPubMed
Singer, J. L., Singer, D. G., & Rapaczynski, W. S. (1984). Family patterns and television viewing as predictors of children's beliefs and aggression. Journal of Communication, 34, 7389.Google Scholar
Slaby, R. G., & Quaforth, G. R. (1980). Effects of television on the developing child. In Camp, B. W. (Ed.), Advances in behavioral pediatrics (Vol. 1). Greenwich, CT: JAI.Google Scholar
Strain, P. S., Lambert, D. L., Kerr, M. M., Stagg, V., & Lenkner, D. A. (1983). Naturalistic assessment of children's compliance to teachers' requests and consequences for compliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 16, 243249.Google Scholar
Toufexis, A. “Our violent kids.” Time, 06 12, 1989.Google Scholar
Werthamer-Larsson, L., Kellam, S. G., & Wheeler, L. (1991). Effect of first grade classroom environment on shy behavior, aggressive behavior, and concentration problems. American Journal of Community Psychology, 19, 585602.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
West, D. J. (1982). Delinquency: Its roots, careers, and prospects. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Wilson, W. J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar