If you think that your daughter may be antisocial, informing yourself about this disorder is essential. It is normal for children to display positive and negative social behaviors as they grow and develop. Some children lie, others rebel, others withdraw into themselves, etc. But some children show high levels of antisocial behaviors. They are hostile and disobedient. They can steal and break things, and they can also physically and verbally abuse other people.
This type of behavior can often mean that your daughter exhibits antisocial behavior. This behavior is manageableBut it can lead to more serious problems in adulthood if not treated properly. If you are worried that your daughter has antisocial tendencies, here we are going to see the keys to face this problem.
What is child antisocial behavior?
Antisocial behavior is characterized by the girl having an aggressive and defiant attitude. He is hostile to authority figures and has a tendency to lie. These behavior problems usually appear in early childhood and during adolescence. Contrary to what you might think, they are more common in younger children.
This disorder can be seen as something strange and worrisome, but really it is much more frequent than we imagine. The most important thing is to know what it is to identify it, and that it has a solution since with education and therapy this type of behavior can be corrected.
Risk factors for antisocial behavior in children
To determine if a girl can be antisocial, you have to look at your environment and in your past and present relationships. Some factors can be:
- The environment in which the child is, both at school and in the area in which he lives.
- Genetics and family history can also be a determining factor
- A bad example of the girl's parents or guardians, or who pay little attention to the girl
- An unstable home where the girl can see negative behaviors, such as violence
Other disorders like hyperactivity and neurological problems too can provoke antisocial behavior. Young people with a attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are at higher risk of developing antisocial behavior.
What are the symptoms of antisocial behavior in children?
Antisocial behavior can begin to be identified in children of 3 or 4 years. If it appears at such a young age and is not treated, it can lead to a more severe disorder starting at age 9. Thus, we are going to see the symptoms that your daughter may present in order to identify them:
- Hurt animals or people
- Tell lies and steal
- You can rebel or break the rules
- Vandalism or destruction of property
- Crime trends
Research has linked childhood antisocial behavior to a higher rate of alcohol and drug abuse in adolescence. This self-destructive behavior can be genetically influenced, by family cases, or by the influence of friends and the environment in which the girl is related.
How does an antisocial boy or girl behave?
Serious forms of antisocial behavior can lead to conduct disorder or a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder. Antisocial children, because of their problems with authority figures, tend to drop out of school at an early age. In addition, when it comes to working and having friendships or of any other type, it is very difficult for them. They are not integrated into society.
Do not treat this problem during childhood and adolescence, can lead to antisocial personality disorder in adulthood. Adults living with this disorder often show antisocial behavior and other conduct disorder symptoms before the age of 15. Therefore, it is not likely to appear suddenly in adulthood.
El antisocial personality disorder It can be detected by paying attention to certain signs, which can be:
- Lack of empathy and consideration for others
- Contempt and abuse of authority and the rights of people
- Aggressive and violent attitude
- Arrogance
- Show a charming attitude to manipulate
- They have no sincere regrets
Ways to treat your daughter's antisocial behavior
Early prevention is essential. The sooner it is detected, the sooner you can start to remedy it. Cognitive behavioral therapy is probably the most appropriate to reverse this disorder. Problem-solving skills training is important to educate in empathy.
If necessary, the idea of family therapy could also be considered. With the family therapy, parents can learn how to deal positively with the unpleasant situations that their daughter's disorder can lead to. The coordinated work of the psychologist, the family and the school is very important.
Warmth and affection, reasonable discipline, and a more authoritative parenting style often have positive results. in these types of children. This can help your daughter have positive relationships and improve her school performance.
That children and adolescents are rebellious and have specific antisocial tendencies, it is normal. So it is essential that you talk to your daughter to let her know that her behavior worries you, because there may be an unknown underlying situation that triggers this attitude. In the same way, you can contact a health professional for an evaluation to develop an effective plan to treat your daughter's antisocial behavior.