AUTHOR DOCUMENT RESUME Distinguishing between Antisocial Behavior and National Inst. of

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DOCUMENT RESUME
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AUTHOR
Block, Jack; Gjerde, Per F.
TITLE
Distinguishing between Antisocial Behavior and
Undercontrol.
SPONS AGENCY
National Inst. of Mental Health (DREW), Bethesda,
Md.; Norwegian Research Council for Sc:zrace and the
Pumanities.
PUB DATE
Apr 85
GRANT
NIMH-MH-16080; NRCSH-B68-80-006
NOTE
66p.; Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the
Society for Research in Child Development (Toronto,
Ontario, Canada, April 25-28, 1985).
PUB TYPE
Reports - Research/Technical (143) --
Speeches /Conference Papers (150)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
*Adolescents; *Antisocial Behavior; Child Rearing;
*Children; Daughters; Drug Use; Longitudinal Studies;
*Personality Assessment; Personality Traits;
Predictor Variables; Q Methodology; Self Concept;
*Self Control; Sex Differences; Sons
IDENTIFIERS
Constructs; Impulsiveness; *Undercontrol
(Psychology)
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the conceptual and empirical
relationships differentially associated with antisocial behavior and
undercontrol, two concepts that frequently are confused. The
personality characteristics conceptually associated with antisocial
behavior were specified by seven psychologists using the California
Child Q-sort (CCQ) to describe independently a prototypically
antisocial adolescent. Next, CCQ descriptions of each adolescent in a
longitudinal study of ego and cognitive development of 3-, 4-, 5-,
7-, 11-, and 14-year-olds were correlated with the prototype. The
congruence between an actual CCQ description and the prototype was
the index of antisocial personality. Undercontrol was operationalized
similarly. Indices of antisocial personality and of undercontrol then
were related to indices of adolescent drug usage, self-concept, and
parental child-rearing practices. Numerous external correlates
distinguished between antisocial personality and undercontrol.
Antisocial personality, but not undercontrol, predicted drug usage at
age 14 in both sexes. The value systems of antisocial males reflect
aspirations for wariness and uninvolvement. Parental child-rearing
values foretold antisocial behavior and undercontrol more frequently
in girls than in boys. (Author/RH)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
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el
To appear in
Block
Olweus,
Radke-Yarrow
(Eds.),
M.
J.
&
D.
e
Research,
Behavior:
Development
Prosocial
and
Antisocial,
of
New York, Academic Press, 1965.
Theories, and Issues.
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Distinguishing Between Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
Jack Block and Per F. Gjerde
University of California, Berkeley
-PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Running head: Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
Health
of
Mental
This study was supported by National Institute
to Jack Block and Jeanne H. Block. Per F. Gjerde
MH
16080
Grant
CC)
Norwegian
from
the
B68-80-006
was partly
by Grant
supported
rim(
We would like to
Research Council for Science and the Humanities.
lUr:)
Kevin
Kerig,
Feld,
thank Ruth Butler, Phillip Cowan, Peter
Pat
Avril Thorne, and Denise Watson for providing prototypi-
Lanning,
prosocial
We
child.
cal descriptions of the antisocial and the
contribution of Susan Keyes in
gratefully acknowledge
the
also
1:54
reprints
Requests
for
creating the illegal substance use index.
Jack Block, Department of Psychology, Tolman
should
sent
be
to
Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720.
Abstract
con-
psychological
The often diffuse and overlapping character of
Hence, delineation of
structs leads to their frequent conflation.
This
useful.
be
the differences between related constructs can
the conceptual and empirical relationships dif-
examines
chapter
undercontrol,
ferentially associated with antisocial behavior and
personality
confused.
are
frequently
The
concepts
that
two
behavior
antisocial
characteristics conceptually associated with
seven psychologists each using the California
specified
by
were
an-
prototypically
Child Q-sort (CCQ) to describe independently a
Next, CCQ descriptions of each adolescent in
tisocial adolescent.
The
prototype.
the
with
our longitudinal study were correlated
congruenCe between an actual CCQ description and the prototype was
operation-
Undercontrol was
our index of antisocial personality.
indices of antisocial personality and of
Our
similarly.
alized
drug
adolescent
of
indices
related
undercontrol then were
to
practices.
child-rearing
parental
and
self-concept,
usage,
antisocial per-
Numerous external correlates distinguished between
Antisocial personality, but not under-
sonality and undercontrol.
value
The
control, predicted drug usage at age 14 in both sexes.
antisocial males reflect aspirations for wariness and
of
systems
antisocial
Parental child-rearing values foretold
uninvolvement.
3
3
Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
than in boys.
undercontrol more frequently in girls
and
behavior
empirical
Substantively, the results articulate the conceptual and
personality and
the constructs of antisocial
between
differences
these
of
undercontrol and deepen our developmental understanding
useful in
The methodology employed should br.! equally
two domains.
often
analyzing relations between other, conceptually related but
confounded individual difference constructs.
Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
longstanding
This chapter is a first attempt to respond to a
antisocial and pro-
we have had with the way the study of
concern
there
believe
We
social behavior has proceeded over the years.
general failure to consider closely enough the rela-
been
has
a
what
is
control and
tionship between what is called poor impulse
Theory and research on the antisocial
called antisocial behavior.
prosocial personality) in our
personality (or for that matter, the
too casually equated or assimilated antisocial behavior
view
has
an
We believe there is
impulse.
to the notion of undercontrol of
between the societally-defined category called
linkage
important
this
but
under-control
antisocial behavior and the construct of
The main purpose of this
relationship is far from an equival
differences between these
chapter, therefore, is to articulate the
constructs and to evaluate the utility, empirically, of main-
two
per-
the
We AM first establish
taining their distinctiveness.
psychologists consider to distin-
that
characteristics
sonality
We
behavior.
guish between undercontrol of impulse and antisocial
then go on to present some empirical relationships differen-
will
tially associated with the two constructs.
in
Theorists of many persuasions have found it necessary to
2
Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
something akin to the construct
an explanatory construct
voke
as
been
have
Because many of these invocations
of impulse control.
and
theoretically
systematic
than
rather
casual
and
hoc
ad
and
conceptual
required
construct
the
descriptively,
has
a
have sought to offer (cf., e.g., J.
we
which
basis,
behavioral
Block, 1950, J. H. Block, 1951; J. H. Block & J. Block, 1980).
from
an
derives
Our own formulation, termed "ego-control,"
integrate aspects of psychoanalytic theory (cf, Feni-
attempt
to
dynamics of
chel, 1945) with the theorizing of Lewin regarding the
Based on the
motivational states (Lewin, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1951).
(the degree of mutu-
Lewinian formulation of boundary permeability
influence between subsystems), ego control refers to the modal
al
or-
ego
individual's
degree of impulse control characterizing an
When dimensionalized, the underlying continuum at the
ganization.
impermeability
boundary
excessive
one end--overcontrol--implies
resulting in containment of impulse, delay of gratification, inhi-
distractors.
bition of behavior, and insulation from environmertal
The opposite end of the continuum-- undercontrol -- implies excessive
modulation of
im-
boundary permeability resulting in insufficient
direct translation of needs into behavior,
immediate
and
pulse,
Whereas each of these two modes
and vulnerability to distractors.
of behavior can serve adaptive functions under a restricted set of
continuum
the
of
end
circumstances, extreme placement at either
can be expected to he dysfunctional in the long run.
3
Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
control
of ego
the location of individuals on this dimension
provides implicative and predictive informations about how indivi-
cognitive
duals will behave in a wide variety of situations, about
and the articulation of experience, and about psycho-
functioning
to be
Behaviorally, the overcontroller appears
social adaptation.
and inhibited, to show minimal expression of personal
constrained
categorical
toward
tend
organized,
to
highly
emotions, to be
able to continue working on unintslresting tasks
to
be
thinking,
to intolerant of ambigui-
for relatively long periods of time, to
relatively nar-
ty, to be over-conforming, indecisive, and to have
undercontroller
the
Behaviorally,
row and unchanging interests.
unduly spontaneous, to readily manifest emotional
appears
be
to
towards
tend
to
reactions, to tend to disregard social customs,
of personal desires, even when such
gratification
immediate
the
have widely
gratifications are at odds with ultimate goals, and to
associative processes that often produce unusual thoughts
ranging
(that may or may not be of high "quality.")
Considerable clinical and research effort has been devoted to
labeled as an-
the nature of individuals societally
understanding
in-
Descriptions of the antisocial or the psychopathic
tisocial.
insufficient impulse con-
converge in finding
generally
dividual
For example, the
to be a central personality characteristic.
trol
influential psychiatric Diagnos-
most recent version of the highly
one
as
tic and Statistical Manual (DMS-111) includes impulsivity
4
Antisocial Behavior and Underco ,itrol
diagnostic criteria defining the DMS-III category,
major
the
of
Antisocial Personality Disorder (American Psychiatric Association,
discourages the use, of the term 'antisocial per-
DMS-III
1980).
of
sonality disorder' with individuals less than
years
eighteen
With regard to children, the term "impulse-ridden personali-
age.
ty' has been recommended (Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry,
(The remaining four were irresponsibility, superficiality
1966).
impair-
of affect, inability to profit from past experience,
and
that antiso-
ment of conscience.) McCord and McCord have suggested
immedi-
cial behavior can be traced to an individual's search for
He is a man
"The psychopath is highly impulsive.
pleasure.
ate
for whom the moment is a segment of time detached from all others.
whims" (McCord & McCord,
are unplanned and guided by
actions
His
Rabin also has placed major emphasis on the inabil-
1964, p. 16).
capacity for
of antisocial individuals to develop an adequate
ity
im-
The psychopath "continues to be egocentric and
self-control.
fulfillment of
being solely concerned with the immediate
pulsive,
Since he can suffer no delay or postponement and
can-
his needs.
by the environment, he
thwarted
when
frustration
tolerate
not
remains rather childish in this respect" (Rabin, 1979, p. 327).
these
various
why
recognize
conceptually
to
easy
It is
antisocial personality
descriptions
of the
societally-oriented
Socie-
central component.
find inadequate impulse control to be a
definitions of antisocial behavior generally have referred to
tal
Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
5
face
as
obvious, flagrant, immediately disruptive behaviors such
behaviors, and violations of social
violence,
criminal
face
to
the so-
codes designed to facilitate the everyday functioning of
ciety.
definition
of antisocial
(generally-held)
Given this
for
behavior, it follows that undercontrol may set
stage
a
the
variety
of
antisocial
behaviors.
looked at conceptually
Yet,
rather than in the narrow terms set by operationalizing antisocial
behavior in terms of reported violations or encounters with police
may
drunkenness,
it
or number ,.-)f traffic violations or recorded
be that the current emphasis on the relationship between the
well
excessive
two concepts, undercontrol and antisocial behavior,
is
preventing
viewing an antisocial
recognitions.
deeper
and
By
control,
impulse
predisposition largely in terms of insufticient
psychological insights regarding different kinds of an
important
behavior
Conceiving of antisocial
tisocial behavior may be lost.
broader terms involving rejection or unawareness of the social
in
contract, inability to empathize with unfortunate others,
and
an
absence of inhibitions regarding the manipulation and exploitation
of others, one can readily see how
individual--antisocial
in
an
latter
way-- could well have sufficient ability to modulate
this
kind,
this
A configuration of personality qualities of
impulse.
conjoining
control
with
of
impulse
absence of empathy and
an
stage
for
internalization of social codes, is likely to set
the
premeditated,
(and sinister) antisocial behaviors
consequential,
generally
and
ulti'qately, in contrast to the spontaneous, local,
Antisocial Behavior and Undercontrol
6
of antisocial undercon-
characteristic
behaviors
self-defeating
trollers.
J.H. Block and J.Block (1980)
Cleckley
earlier
and
(1964)
can be planful and premeditated as
psychopaths
that
noted
have
well as shortsighted and impulsive.
But, due to an absence of in-
moments, psychopaths are unable to
during affective
trospection
place themselves in the affective situation
others
of
and a-es
constrained in their behavior than more empathic
less
therefore,
When it is further recognized that
individuals.
ego-control
is,
functionally, unrelated to introspectiveness--there can be intros-
pective or non-introspective
undercontrollers,
introspective
or
that the two con-
follows
overcontrollers--it
non-introspective
antisociality
structs of
should
kept
impulse
control
and
be
separate and the separate implications of the two constructs esta-
Such efforts are likely to provide understanding of
blished.
the
differential developmental factors that foretell individuals later
characterized as undercontrolled and as antisocial, respectively.
that
the
In addition to ample anecdotal evidence suggesting
extremely
mild-mannered
and
person
assaultive
appeared
often
empiricism
has
well-controlled prior to the aggressive act, some
Megargee (Megargee, 1966;
on this topic.
brought
bear
been
to
Mendelsohn,
1967)
Megargee & Mendelsohn, 1962; Megargee, Cook
&
criminals were more controlled
reported
extremely
violent
that
individuals.
The
normal
than either nonassaultive criminals or
10