Developmental origins of early antisocial behavior SUSAN D. CALKINS AND SUSAN P. KEANE University of North Carolina at Greensboro Abstract Early antisocial behavior has its origins in childhood behavior problems, particularly those characterized by aggressive and destructive behavior. Deficits in self-regulation across multiple domains of functioning, from the physiological to the cognitive, are associated with early behavior problems, and may place children at greater risk for the development of later antisocial behavior. Data are presented from a longitudinal study of early self-regulation and behavior problems, the RIGHT Track Research Project, demonstrating that children at greatest risk for early and persistent problem behavior display patterns of physiological and emotional regulation deficits early in life. Parenting behavior and functioning have also been examined as predictors of trajectories of early problem behavior, and some data support the interaction of parenting and self-regulation as significant predictors of patterns of problematic behaviorand ongoing problems with the regulation of affect. Peer relationships also affect and are affected by early self-regulation skills, and both may play a role in academic performance and subsequent school success. These data provide evidence that the social contexts of early family and peer relationships are important moderators of the more proximal mechanism of self-regulation, and both types of processes, social and biobehavioral, are likely implicated in early antisocial tendencies. Implications of these findings on self-regulation and early behavior problems are discussed in terms of future research and treatment approaches. Antisocial behavior is generally defined as be- havior that violates the basic rights of others. In adults, antisocial behavior is often associated with criminal behaviors such as stealing or phys- ical assault, but it also includes other more insid- ious behaviors such as lying, duplicity, and manipulating others for personal gain. These an- tisocial behaviors comprise the criteria necessary to meet the diagnosis of antisocial personality dis- order (ASPD). In addition, a hallmark feature of this disorder is marked indifference to the victim (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In ado- lescents, antisocial behavior typically manifests itself as delinquency. Chronic antisocial behavior in adolescence and ASPD in adulthood are serious societal problems with financial (e.g., ar- rest, adjudication, and incarceration) and personal (medical expenses, lost wages, loss of property, loss of life) costs (Foster & Jones, 2006), making an understanding of these conditions, and their development, an important research question. Recent research has begun to illuminate our understanding of the development of antisocial behavior. We know that ASPD in adults and anti- social behavior in adolescents share a common antecedent of early aggressive and disruptive be- havior in childhood (Dishion & Patterson, 2006). Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Susan D. Calkins, Department of Human Development and Fam- ily Studies, P.O. Box 26170, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170; E-mail: sdcalkin@uncg.edu. The writing of this manuscript was partially supported by a National Institute of Health Research Scientist Career Development Award (K02) to Susan D. Calkins (MH 74077). The research reported was supported by a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (MH 55625) and an NIMH FIRST award (MH 55584) to Susan D. Calkins and by an NIMH Grant (MH 58144) awarded to Susan D. Calkins, Susan P. Keane, and Marion O’Brien. We thank the parents and children who have repeatedly given their time and effort to participate in this research and are grateful to the entire RIGHT Track staff for their help collecting, entering, and coding data. Development and Psychopathology 21 (2009), 1095–1109 doi:10.1017/S095457940999006X 1095