Abstract
This study looked at the relationship between heart rate in childhood (7-11 years), adolescence (13-18 years) and adulthood (26 years) and antisocial behaviour measured at ages 13, 15, 18 and 26. Three types of antisocial behaviour were measured: self report (DSM-IV conduct disorder/antisocial personality disorder symptom scales and self-reported delinquency scales), informant report and official report (police contacts and court convictions). A relationship was found between adolescent heart rate and antisocial behaviour. This was particularly strong for self-report measures. Socio-economic status (SES) was not found to mediate this relationship. No relationship was found between childhood heart rate and antisocial behaviour and between adult heart rate and antisocial behaviour. Implications of the findings were discussed in terms of the Arousal Theory (Raine, 1993) and the Social Production Function Theory (Lindenberg, 1996).