Conduct Disorder: Cultural Factors

When considering conduct disorder (CD), it is important to keep in mind how cultural processes and differences in contextual experiences across cultural groups (experiential differences) may influence how one interprets the presentation and etiology of symptoms. As this entry discusses, the consideration of these issues may have broad implications for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Cultural Processes

Beliefs, values, and interpretations of behavior constitute cultural processes through which one makes value judgments about the world. Regarding CD, cultural processes influence how professionals, the child’s family, and the child define aggressive behavior, interpret affective expression, assess the child’s symptoms, and identify underlying causes.

Whereas behaviors described under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), criteria for nonaggressive conduct (e.g., firesetting and property damage) are more ...

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