The symptoms may vary depending on the age of the child, and severity of the disorder (mild, moderate, or severe) and fall into four general categories:
Aggressive behaviour: Behaviours that cause physical harm to others and may include instigating or partaking in fights, bullying, being cruel towards others or animals, using weapons or forcing another into sexual activity.
Destructive behaviour: Intentional destruction of property through deliberate arson or vandalism
Deceitful behaviour: Repeated lying, shoplifting or stealing
Violation of rules: Going against accepted social rules of society or engaging in behaviour that is not appropriate for the person's age, such as truancy, smoking, alcohol or drug use or being sexually active at a very young age.
Individuals with conduct disorder might also appear irritable, have low self-esteem, and tend to display temper tantrums. They might have difficulty understanding how their behaviour harms others, and generally show little guilt or remorse for their actions.