Development of juvenile aggression and violence. Some common misconceptions and controversies

Abstract

This article addresses 5 misconceptions and controversies concerning the development of aggression and violence: (a) the misconception that high stability coefficients of aggression over time imply that discontinuity of aggression from childhood to early adulthood is negligible; (b) the misconception that all serious forms of violence have an origin in aggression during early childhood; (c) the controversy about whether a single pathway or multiple pathways best represent individuals' development of antisocial behavior, including violence; (d) the controversy about whether causes of violence are similar to the causes of property offending; and (e) the assumption that the development of violence in women is very similar to that in men. Each of the points is discussed against empirical findings. Theoretical, research, and applied implications of the 5 points are discussed.