Antisocial/Conduct Disorder: Externalizing Behaviors

The behaviors associated with antisocial and conduct disorder encompass a wide range of behavioral problems, including aggression, oppositionality, delinquency, and violence. These [Page 131]externalizing behaviors tend to be stable and persistent, often increasing in severity and frequency as the individual grows into adolescence and adulthood. This entry describes externalizing behaviors across the lifespan, including their clinical definitions and prevalence in the general population, developmental progression, and related precursors and outcomes.