Grant: Foundation Grant

Antisocial behaviour problems, such as aggression against people and property, bullying, and violence, are widespread among children and adolescents. The long-term outcomes of antisocial behaviour pose major health burdens on the individuals, their families, and the Canadian society. Thus, understanding the underlying biological, emotional, and clinical risk and protective factors for antisocial behaviour is of critical significance. The proposed program of research will investigate the role of emotions, such as rage, empathy, and guilt, as well as their biological correlates, in the development of aggression. We hypothesize that these emotions may have divergent effects, with high levels of guilt and empathy preventing antisocial behaviour, while exaggerated levels of rage increasing antisocial behaviour. Specifically, this program of research will examine if children with elevated levels of antisocial behaviour differ in their emotional, physiological, and electrophysiological responses to conflicts about rules and obligations, compared to normally developed children. Given the recognition that emotions and underlying biological processes play an influential role in how children resolve conflicts with peers and adults, the proposed program of research will provide timely knowledge on the role of biological and emotional processes in antisocial behaviour. This information about child socioemotional development will be used to develop new, early intervention strategies (e.g., targeting emotions and awareness of physiological arousal) for treating antisocial behaviour in children.