Aetiology of antisocial behaviour

In this paper we briefly and selectively review the current knowledge base of the nature and nurture for persistent, early-onset antisocial behaviour, with a particular focus on studies that have examined potential etiologic distinctions such as callous-unemotional subtype of antisocial behaviour. First, we discuss results from recent studies that indicate that callous-unemotional traits can be used to distinguish two different subtypes of conduct problems at a behavioural, cognitive–affective, and possibly neural level. Second, we review genetically informative studies on antisocial behaviour keeping in mind the distinction of callous-unemotional subtype. Data from these two lines of research (i.e., genetic, neurocognitive studies) to date suggest that antisocial children with callous-unemotional traits are genetically more vulnerable to antisocial behaviour than their antisocial peers and that this genetic vulnerability may manifest in a distinct neurocognitive signature. In this paper we also highlight the complex interplay between nature and nurture and provide examples of how putative environmental risk factors for antisocial behaviour can be studied using behavioural genetic research designs. Finally, we give some pointers of new research strategies in the field and draw out implications of this research to practice.