Which behavior early in a child's career is the single best predictor of delinquency in adolescence?

Which behavior early in a child's career is the single best predictor of delinquency in adolescence?

• A. Antisocial behavior
• B. Standards
• C. Comprehensive Student Support System (CSSS)
• D. Guided practice

Answer: (A)

Early antisocial behavior is the best predictor of delinquency in adolescence because persistent conduct problems that begin in childhood tend to follow a stable path into the teen years. When a child consistently shows aggression, defiance, and rule-breaking, research consistently finds a higher likelihood that these patterns will continue and escalate, especially for those on a long-term, life-course–persistent trajectory. This reflects underlying risk factors—family dynamics, peer influences, temperament, and self-regulation challenges—that make later delinquent behavior more probable. The other options describe practices or standards rather than risk indicators, so they don’t serve as reliable predictors of delinquency on their own.

Early antisocial behavior is the best predictor of delinquency in adolescence because persistent conduct problems that begin in childhood tend to follow a stable path into the teen years. When a child consistently shows aggression, defiance, and rule-breaking, research consistently finds a higher likelihood that these patterns will continue and escalate, especially for those on a long-term, life-course–persistent trajectory. This reflects underlying risk factors—family dynamics, peer influences, temperament, and self-regulation challenges—that make later delinquent behavior more probable. The other options describe practices or standards rather than risk indicators, so they don’t serve as reliable predictors of delinquency on their own.