Diverse pathways to deficient self-regulation: Implications for disinhibitory psychopathology in children

ABSTRACT. Laboratory evidence from research employing adult subjects has revealed three different pathways to the breakdown ofself-regulation. The pathways are elucidated using Gray's neuropsycholog-ical model of approach/avoidance learning: One pathway, associated with Gray's behavioral ctivation system (BAS), is triggered by cues for reward; another, associated with the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), is triggered by cues for punishment; and the third involves an intrinsic deficit in theautomatic integration of BAS and BIS processes which results in more widespread self-regulatory problems. We propose that childhood isinhibition also reflects diverse tiological processes and review the potential implications of our proposals for the development of conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and several "comorbid " syndromes (i.e., those manifesting multiple dim nsions ofpsychopath-ology). When people have difficulty regulating their thoughts and feelings as they do in schizo-phrenia and depression, it seems natural to attribute their p oblem to psychopathology. However, when a person's behavior is poorly regulated we are apt to attribute the prob-lem to inadequate motivation or maliciousness. Although we find it plausible that thoughts and feelings may escape voluntary control, we have trouble thinking abou