From the Administrator

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken")

The paths we take early in life often do make a considerable difference in the destinations that await us down the road. Pathways of particular concern are those that route some young boys to disruptive behavior and delinquency.

Researchers with the Pittsburgh Youth Study, a principal component of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency, have documented three developmental pathways that boys follow as they progress to more serious problem behaviors. Each pathway represents conceptually similar behaviors that unfold over time. They include conflict with authority (defiance and running away), covert actions (lying and stealing), and overt actions (aggression and violent behavior).

The longitudinal research summarized in Developmental Pathways in Boys' Disruptive and Delinquent Behavior helps us to better understand past, present, and future antisocial behaviors. This knowledge, in turn, will better equip us to identify problem behaviors early enough to intervene effectively before they lead to serious delinquency.

Shay Bilchik
Administrator