Compare and contrast the two types of delinquent behaviors that are discussed in your chapter. Which of them provides the more problematic prognosis?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The textbook discusses two types of delinquent behaviors:
(a) Adolescent limited antisocial behavior – this is when a teenager engages in minor criminal acts, such as trivial shoplifting or drug use, but these minor rules violations are not severe enough to label this adolescent as being antisocial. These behaviors usually do not persist and go away during later adolescent years. This individual may also be careful to obey rules in places like school so that they are not seen as a troublemaker. Although the textbook does not present it, students may comment on this being normal "boundary-testing" behavior, or an adolescent looking to find where the limits are for their own actions.
(b) Life-course persistent antisocial behavior – this is a much more problematic tend, where rule-breaking, potentially violent, and illegal behaviors may start very early in life and continue through different developmental periods. While it is much less common, it is far more serious. Adolescents who have this sort of pattern account for the majority of criminal behavior among teenagers. If teachers have discussed the diagnosis of conduct disorder, the student may comment on that in this section. This is not covered in the textbook, however.