Criminal psychologists have conducted several studies on the psychiatric disorders that lead to criminal behavior. These studies have consistently confirmed the lasting impact of the mental problems that occur in childhood on future antisocial personalities, particularly the demeanor issues that leads to antisocial behavior and criminality (Mordre et al., 2011). According to Mordre et al. (2011), studies on convicts in Western nations shows that 50 percent of the prisoners fulfill the diagnoses of grave conduct or antisocial personality disorders when imprisoned. Even though conduct disorder is a renowned precursor of antisocial temperaments, other infancy disorders as antecedents of antisocial traits are contentious in some way. However, some studies have confirmed that ADHD and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) together with conduct disorder can lead to antisocial behavior and criminality later in life (Mordre et al. 2011).
Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is an array of behavioral as well as emotional problems that typically start during childhood or teenage years. Kids and teenagers affected by the disorder experience difficulties in following rules and ensuring their behaviors are socially acceptable. From time to time they can be hostile, destructive, and dishonest. Such practices can violate the rights of other people, especially those who do not understand their causes. Individuals with conduct disorder at times are also affected by other psychiatric conditions as the personalities of hostility or conduct for each may overlap. Examples of traits that come along with this situation are assaults, theft, and bullying. Some kids may also show cruelty to animals or engage in arson (Abraham, 2017).
Research has shown that deviant behaviors in childhood can lead to a life that encompasses criminality. For instance, according to Pajer (1998), there is a stable connection between a mental disease occurring at a given time and the reoccurrence of similar symptoms under the similar or different mental problem in the future. This account is according to a study that he conducted in 1998 between delinquent behavior in teenagers and criminal behavior among grownup males. Another survey by Soderstrom et al. (2004) associated psychiatric issues with aggressiveness or relapse and a lifelong history of hostility. The findings of the study linked conduct disorder, ADHD, and ASPD with an antagonistic tendency, where the affected individuals would return to a psychiatrist for help. The study confirms that once a person contracts at least one of the behavioral disorders, there is a possibility that they will have it for the rest of their lives.
Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity (ADHD)
Every person can have trouble sitting quietly, paying attention or avoiding impulsive tendencies for some time. Nevertheless, for some individuals, the challenges are incredibly pervasive and continuing, and they find it very hard controlling them. Some characteristics of ADHD are challenges in paying attention, impulsivity, as well as hyperactivity. According to Fletcher and Wolfe (2012), a person affected by the syndrome between five and twelve years of age has a high possibility of engaging in criminal activities as young grownups than any other person. Fletcher and Wolfe (2012) further said that the pattern remains intact even when the study takes other aspects that can affect it, such as poverty and gender, into consideration. The outcome is also in agreement with the anticipations of the economic models of crime. A person affected by ADHD has a limited market expectation, and therefore s/he is more likely to exhibit criminality than other teenagers or young adults (Fletcher & Wolfe, 2012).
Moreover, an individual with attention challenges is likely to show criminal behaviors than people who are ADHD free. S/he has a high likelihood of engaging in crimes encompassing planning, for example, drug trafficking, or shoplifting. Individuals suffering from impulsivity appear to be more involved in a more senseless crime like robbery and mugging. However, people affected by a combination of ADHP symptoms are less engaged in criminal activities (Fletcher & Wolfe, 2012).
The findings by the two researchers show that there is a high probability for children who have ADHD to exhibit poor results as young adults. For that reason, one can use the discoveries from the study to come up with intervention programs to avert the risks. The plans and the accompanying assessments will help in reducing the probability of these kids in committing a crime. Children with ADHD can prosper in life. However, there is the need for proper identification and treatment as the condition can be severe if not checked. Examples of consequences of ADHD are poor performance in school, family problems, drug abuse, criminal behavior, and job loss.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
ASPD is a psychiatric condition that causes irresponsible neglect for social rules, impulsive tendencies, and incapability to experience guilt. The frustration tolerance of individuals with ASPD is near to the ground (Aggarwal, 2013). They also exhibit an exaggerated sense of self-esteem and have personalities that make them infringe the rights of other people. The condition also has a link to co-occurring psychiatric diseases and other medical co-morbidity. It also has a relationship with a high rate of natural as well as unnatural deaths such as suicide and homicide, and it is a precursor of inferior treatment response. ASPD starts typically before age ten. Researchers identify it as a conduct disorder in infancy, but after eighteen years of age, the condition graduates to ASPD in case antisocial conducts persist (Black, 2015). Moffit (1993) says that though it is rare for people to commit crime after adolescence, there are some individuals who get into adulthood while still exhibiting ASPD symptoms. Other people seem to improve with age (Black, 2015).
In sum, conduct disorders in tandem with ADHD and ASPD can lead to adult criminality. Children commonly exhibit deviant behaviors at a young age. The actions, however, change as they transition to adulthood. However, there are some exceptions where these tendencies spill into the adulthood. Such conducts include those described under ADHD, ASPD and behavior disorders (for instance, bullying, burglary, substance abuse among several others). Individuals who carry the symptoms of the diseases to adulthood regularly engage in criminal activities, which mean that there is a connection between the deviant behavior during infancy and adult criminality.
References
Abraham, J. (2017). Childhood conduct disorder and adult criminal behavior. Retrieved from
https://www.gnlu.ac.in/monthly-column/GNLU-MA-JA-0317-01.pdf
Aggarwal, I.(2013). The Role of antisocial personality disorder and antisocial behavior in crime.
Retrieved from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1658/the-role-of-antisocial-personality-disorder-and-antisocial-behavior-in-crime
Black, W.D. (2015). The natural history of antisocial personality disorder. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500180/
Fletcher, J., & Wolfe, B. (2012. Long-term consequences of childhood adh on criminal activities.
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3398051/
Moffitt, T.E. (1993). Adolescence-limited and life-course persistent antisocial behavior: a
developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review, 100(4), 674-701
Mordre, M. et al.(2011). The impact of ADHD and conduct disorder in childhood on adult
delinquency: A 30 year’s follow-up study using official crime records. Retrieved from
https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1471-244X-11-57
Pajer, A.K. (1998). What happens to “bad” girls? a review of the adult outcomes of antisocial
adolescent girls. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(7), 862-870
Soderstom et al. (2004). Adult psychopathic personality with childhood-onset hyperactivity
and conduct disorder: a central problem constellation in forensic
psychiatry. Psychiatry Research, 121(2004), 271-280
