Relational, Indirect, and Social Aggression: Alleviating Gender Bias In the Diagnosis of Conduct Disorder

This literature review examines the potential for gender bias in the diagnosis of Conduct Disorder in conjunction with the concepts of indirect, relational, and social aggression. We will discuss a brief history of the changes in the diagnostic criteria, how those changes affected the diagnosis, and the effects of aggression in the diagnostic process. This review also provides an overview of indirect, relational, and social aggression in children and adolescents. Furthermore, we will consider relational aggression as a diagnostic criterion in Conduct Disorder and discuss how it may alleviate the possibility of gender bias in the diagnosis of Conduct Disorder.