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Is the Antisocial Child Father of the Abusive Man?: A 40-Year Prospective Longitudinal Study on the Developmental Antecedents of Intimate Partner Violence

NCJ Number
228398
Journal
Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 741-780
Author(s)
Patrick Lussier; David P. Farrington; Terrie E. Moffitt
Date Published
August 2009
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether early childhood risk factors contributed to explaining and predicting intimate partner violence in mid-adulthood.
Abstract
The findings indicate that a criminogenic environment increased the risk of intimate personal violence (IPV) by fostering the development of antisocial behavior and neuropsychological deficits. There was a link found between a high level of antisocial behavior during adolescence and the risk of IPV later in life. These findings have implications for the theory development of partner violence. Recent prospective longitudinal studies have suggested that successful interventions for childhood antisocial behavior might have long-term impacts on IPV in adulthood. This study examined this claim by reviewing the long-term risk factors of IPV in adulthood. Participants of the study included 202 men from the Cambridge longitudinal study, who were in an intimate relationship in their mid-40s. Neuropsychological deficits and the presence of a criminogenic family environment were measured between ages 8 and 10. Antisocial behavior was measured between ages 8 and 18. IPV was measured at age 48 using a self-report instrument completed by the participants' female partners. Table, figures, references,and appendix