Testing an Individual Systems Model of Response Evaluation and Decision (RED) and Antisocial Behavior Across Adolescence

Child Development, Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 462-475, March/April 2008

14 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2008 Last revised: 15 May 2008

Abstract

This study examined the bidirectional development of aggressive response evaluation and decision (RED) and antisocial behavior across five time-points in adolescence. Participants (n = 522) were asked to imagine themselves behaving aggressively while viewing videotaped ambiguous provocations, and answered a set of RED questions following each aggressive retaliation (administered at Grades 8 and 11 [13 and 16 years]). Self- and mother-reports of antisocial behavior were collected at Grades 7, 9/10, and 12 (12, 14/15, and 17 years). Using structural equation modeling, we found a partial mediating effect at each hypothesized mediational path, despite high stability of antisocial behavior across adolescence. Findings are consistent with an individual systems perspective by which adolescents' antisocial conduct influences how they evaluate aggressive interpersonal behaviors, which affects their future antisocial conduct.

Keywords: Systems Theory, Development, Adolescence, Juvenile, Aggression, Decision Making, Antisocial, Violence, Delinquency, Social Cognition, Social Information Processing

Suggested Citation

Fontaine, Reid Griffith and Bates, John E. and Pettit, Gregory S., Testing an Individual Systems Model of Response Evaluation and Decision (RED) and Antisocial Behavior Across Adolescence. Child Development, Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 462-475, March/April 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1089923

Reid Griffith Fontaine (Contact Author)

Duke University ( email )

United States

John E. Bates

Indiana University

107 S Indiana Ave
100 South Woodlawn
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

Gregory S. Pettit

Auburn University

415 West Magnolia Avenue
Auburn, AL 36849
United States