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Journal Articles
Abstract:
There is a growing body of scientific research that has drawn a distinction between instrumental (or proactive) and reactive
forms of aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. Whereas neurocognitive, psychophysiological, and other psychological
factors have been shown to distinguish these aggressive subtypes, social cognitive research on alternative types of instrumental
antisocial behavior (e.g., stealing, cheating, and illicit substance use) in youth is limited. Research on social information processing
and aggression has shown that evaluative behavioral judgments may be of particular importance to understanding instrumental
antisocial tendencies. Herein presented is a review of research on social cognition and discernible forms of instrumental antisocial
behavior. It is demonstrated that, consistent with social cognitive research on proactive aggression, the relevance of a specific set of
evaluative behavioral judgments appears to be common to alternative patterns of instrumental antisocial conduct. Conclusions may
have particular importance for (a) research on the development of discernible instrumental antisocial trajectories, (b) clinical
intervention, and (c) the formulation of a conceptual model of instrumental antisocial decision-making.