The contribution of mental health disorders to antisocial behavior pathways

Abstract

Developmental criminologists have dedicated significant attention to explaining the course of antisocial behavior, including behavior onset, aggravation, persistence, and desistance. Models that outline the course of different antisocial behavior pathways have been proposed: overt behaviors, covert behaviors, authority conflict behaviors, and reckless behaviors. The most serious, violent, and persistent offenders tend to engage in all types of antisocial behavior, underscoring the importance of a general deviance construct in explaining the development of chronic offending. Although mental health disorders (MHDs), especially externalizing disorders, are often linked to antisocial behavior outcomes, the role of MHDs in helping to explain the unfolding of antisocial behavior pathways has been limited. In this chapter, behavioral pathway models are reviewed, followed by a discussion of different types of MHDs and their relationship with antisocial behavior and criminal offending. The relationship between MHDs and antisocial/criminal behavior is discussed in terms of criminal justice policy implications.