外顯問題行為是指一組表現在外的、反映了兒童對外部環境消極反應的行為。研究表明嬰兒最早于8個月時便已出現外顯問題行為,且嬰兒期這類行為主要表現為憤怒/發脾氣、不順從/反抗、攻擊、破壞性、過度活躍、注意力不集中等,其成因可從早期經驗因素、遺傳與環境的交互作用等方面解釋。此外,外顯問題行為的干預研究可從差別易感性理論入手,從而為特定氣質類型以及攜帶可塑性基因的嬰兒提高了外顯問題行為的干預效果。本文在梳理上述研究的基礎上,對該領域研究的局限性進行了小結并對未來研究的方向進行了展望。

Externalizing problem behaviors(EPB) refer to child’s negative outward reactions to the external environment. Previous research suggests that the onset of showing EPB starts from eight-month-old infant. EPB, including displaying anger/tantrum, noncompliance/defiance, aggression, destructive behaviors, hyperactivity and inattentive behaviors, may be explained by early life experiences and gene-environmental interactions. Moreover, using the perspective of differential susceptibility theory, the intervention for EPB can be tailored to infants with specific temperamental characteristics and vulnerable genes. The present literature review also proposed future directions to improve the limitations in the research field.