Among the major personality and behavioural
factors that may predict youth violence are
hyperactivity, impulsiveness, poor behavioural
control and attention problems. Nervousness and
anxiety, though, are negatively related to violence.
In a follow-up study of over 1000 children in
Dunedin, New Zealand, boys with violent convictions
up to the age of 18 years were
significantly more likely to have had poor scores
in behavioural control (for example, impulsiveness
and lack of persistence) at the age of 3–5
years, compared with boys with no convictions or
with convictions for non-violent offences (74).