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Cited by 275Crime Patterns and InterventionsAnimal Behavior and ReproductionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Assortative mating for antisocial behavior: Developmental and methodological implications

Krueger, Robert F., Moffitt, Terrie E., Caspi, Avshalom, Bleske, April, Silva, Phil A.·1998·Behavior Genetics
DOI 10.1023/a:1021419013124
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Abstract

Do people mate assortatively for antisocial behavior? If so, what are the implications for the development and persistence of antisocial behavior? We investigated assortative mating for antisocial behavior and its correlates in a sample of 360 couples from Dunedin, New Zealand. We found substantial assortative mating for self-reports of antisocial behavior per se and for self-reports of couple members' tendencies to associate with antisocial peers (0.54 on average). Perceptions about the likelihood of social sanctions for antisocial behavior (e.g., being caught by the authorities or losing the respect of one's family) showed moderate assortative mating (0.32 on average). However, assortative mating for personality traits related to antisocial behavior was low (0.15 on average). These findings suggest that, whereas assortative mating for many individual-difference variables (such as personality traits) is low, assortative mating for actual antisocial behaviors is substantial. We conclude that future family studies of antisocial behavior should endeavor to measure and understand the influence of assortative mating. In addition, we outline a testable behavior-genetic model for the development of antisocial behavior, in which genes and environments promoting or discouraging antisocial behavior become concentrated within families (due to assortative mating), giving rise to widely varying individual developmental trajectories that are, nevertheless, similar within families.

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  • The random mating assumption is probably violated for antisocial and aggressive behavior, as significant spouse correlations have been found in this domain.

    “This assumption is probably violated when it comes to antisocial and aggressive behavior, as significant spouse correlations have been found suggesting that assortative mating exists in this behavioral domain (Krueger et al., 1998; Maes et al., 2007; Taylor et al., 2000).”

    From Human Aggression Across the Lifespan (2011) · cites this paper as Krueger et al., 1998

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Authors
Krueger, R. F., Moffitt, T. E., Caspi, A., Bleske, A., & Silva, P. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • University of London (GB)
  • University of Otago (NZ)
Corresponding author
  • Moffitt, Terrie E.
  • Caspi, Avshalom
ORCID
Venue
Behavior Genetics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1998-05
Volume
28
Issue
3
Pages
173-186
ISSN
  • 0001-8244 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-3297
DOI
10.1023/a:1021419013124
OpenAlex
W1771335242
Cited by
275
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 17
FWCI
29.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Behavior Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH-49414, MH 45070, R01MH045070)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
assortative mating, antisocial behavior, couples, social sanctions, personality traits, family studies, developmental trajectories
MeSH terms
Adult, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Choice Behavior, Crime, Cross-Sectional Studies, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Models, Genetic, Netherlands, Personality, Sexual Partners, Social Behavior, Cohort Studies, Multivariate Analysis, Likelihood Functions, Least-Squares Analysis

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