ABSTRACT
Developmental psychopathologists are most interested in identifying the type of behavior problems during childhood that best predict adult violence and aggression. Their research has revealed a number of behavioral styles and disorders of childhood that noticeably increase the risk of violence during adulthood. A conduct disorder (CD) is a persistent pattern of behavior in which the child repeatedly violates the basic rights of others or age-appropriate norms of social behavior. Social learning theory grew out of the behaviorist movement; social learning theorists are thus interested in overt behavior as opposed to inner or unconscious processes that cannot be directly seen or measured. More recent research has also demonstrated support for social learning theory's role in influencing the development of violent behavior. Social learning theory would predict that violence occurs because the person has been rewarded for being violent, or has seen others rewarded for being violent.
