The antisocial phenomenon in adolescence: What is literature telling us?

•There is considerable heterogeneity in antisocial behaviors, paths and individuals.•The impact of individual, family and social factors differs during development.•The antisocial phenomenon in adolescence is particularly challenging to study.•A research project aims to answer some questions raised by developmental literature.

Our paper offers a reflection on the state of the art of antisocial behaviors in adolescence, seeking to review and synthesize relevant conclusions from developmental investigation on this subject. We begin by identifying the peculiarities of the antisocial phenomenon in adolescence, with particular focus on social and family aspects that may influence social behaviors at this stage, as well as on individual variables that undergo considerable development in adolescence and may play an important role in risk behaviors, such as psychosocial competence, personality, self-concept, and intelligence. The general conclusion points out questions that remain unanswered. Therefore, work seeking to address some of those questions is presented.