An important perspective on alcohol dependence is that it is just one manifestation of the types of generalized externalizing behavior problems that first appear in childhood and adolescence (e.g., Achenbach, 1978; Jessor & Jessor, 1977). There are strong genetic correlations among alcohol dependence and conduct disorder (e.g., Slutske et al., 1998) and personality traits associated with disinhibition (e.g., Slutske et al., 2002). In addition, traits-related to disinhibition prospectively predict the onset of alcohol dependence (Sher et al., 1999, 2005). Factor analytic approaches to psychopathology indicate that all externalizing disorders (e.g., conduct disorder, adult antisocial behavior, drug use disorders, and AUDs) are highly correlated and form a distinct psychopathological factor of “externalizing disorder” with common personality correlates (e.g., Krueger et al., 2005; Krueger & Markon, 2006, 2008). While models of generalized externalizing behavior (e.g., Jessor, Donovan, & Costa, 1991; Patterson, Reid, & Dishion, 1992) tend to highlight the importance of parenting and deviant peer groups, both twin studies (e.g., Slutske et al., 1998) and molecular genetics studies (e.g., Dick, 2007) suggest that common genetic influences are also contributing factors. However, there
