Adolescent Behavior and Risk Factors

Dopamine, Serotonin, and Testosterone in Adolescents

• Chemical Imbalances Affecting Behavior:
  • High dopamine levels compared to serotonin can lead to:
  • Increased risk-taking behavior.
  • Sensation seeking and status seeking behaviors.
  • Testosterone levels can also affect behavioral responses; it may not drop as quickly in some individuals.

Adolescent Brain Development

• Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) Maturity:
  • The adolescent PFC is less developed compared to adults, affecting decision making and social interaction:
  • Increased emotional responses over rational ones.
  • Risk of misinterpreting social cues and communication.
  • Example: Defensive reactions in teenagers when asked about their day.

Risk Factors vs. Protective Factors

• Risk Factors Definition:

  • Personal characteristics or environmental conditions that increase the likelihood of violent offending.
  • Examples include:
  • Association with delinquent peers.
  • Low IQ.

• Dynamic vs. Static Risk Factors:

  • Dynamic Risk Factors:
  • Can change over time (e.g., friend groups).
  • Static Risk Factors:
  • Remain unchanged in the short term (e.g., being male).

• Protective Factors:

  • Opposite of risk factors that decrease the likelihood of negative behaviors:
  • Engaging with law-abiding friends serves as a protective factor.
  • Female gender is a protective factor against antisocial behavior.

Medical Analogy for Risk and Protective Factors

• Health Risk Factors in Medical Terms:
  • Similar to how doctors track family history for diseases (e.g., colon cancer)
  • Identifying risk factors helps in predicting health issues, just as understanding behavioral risk factors aids in predicting criminal behavior.

ADHD and Conduct Disorder

• ADHD as a Risk Factor:

  • Characterized by impulsiveness, restlessness, and risk-taking behavior.
  • Affects 2-9% of children; more prevalent in males.
  • High heritability;
  • Males are more likely to pass ADHD to male offspring than females.

• Co-occurrence of ADHD and Conduct Disorder:

  • 30-50% of individuals with ADHD may also have conduct disorder, increasing risk for delinquency and adult criminal behavior.

Conduct Disorder vs. Antisocial Personality Disorder

• **Differences:
  • Conduct Disorder:**
  • Diagnosable in children/adolescents with antisocial behaviors severe for their developmental level.
  • Manifestations: Stealing, aggression, starting fires, etc.
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder:
  • Diagnosed only in adults; considered the adult form of conduct disorder.

Parenting and the Diagnosis of ADHD

• Challenges in Diagnosis:
  • Varied responses to children's behaviors can complicate ADHD diagnosis.
  • Some parents may overlook signs or attribute behaviors to gender stereotypes.
• Medical Community's Role:
  • The quick diagnosis of ADHD by practitioners may be influenced by societal pressures and parental expectations.