Neuropsychology of Aggression

198 Pages·1991·7.87 MB·English

by  Adrian Raine

NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF AGGRESSION
FOUNDATIONS OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
Barbara Uzzell, Series Editor
1. Ellis, D.W., Christensen, A.L., eds.: Neuropsychological Treatment After Brain
Injury, ISBN No. 0-7923-0014-9.
2. Tupper, D.E., Cicerone, K.D., eds.: The Neuropsychology of Everyday Life:
Assessment and Basic Competencies, ISBN No. 0-7923-0671-6.
3. Tupper, D.E., Cicerone, K.D., eds.: The Neuropsychology of Everyday Life: Issues in
Development and Rehabilitation, ISBN No. 0-7923-0847-6.
4. Milner,j.S., ed.: Neuropsychology <if Aggression. ISBN No. 0-7923-1245-7.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF AGGRESSION
Edited by
JOEL S. MILNER
Department ofPsychology
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois
~.
"
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Neuropsychology of aggression/edited by Joel S. Milner.
p. cm. -(Foundations of neuropsychology; FNPS4)
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-4613-6729-1 ISBN 978-1-4615-3878-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4615-3878-3
1. Aggressiveness (Psychology) 2. Neuropsychology. I. Milner, Joel S. 11. Series.
[DNLM: 1. Aggression-physiology. 2. Aggression-
psychology. 3. Neuropsychology. W1 F099K v. 4/BF 575.A3 N494]
BF575.A3N481991
616.85'82-dc20
DNLMIDLC
for Library of Congress 91-7069
ClP
Printed on acidjree paper
Copyright 1991 by Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 1991
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1991
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission ofthe publisher, Springer Science+Business
Media, LLC
CONTENTS
Preface IX
1. Biological Theories of Violence
ADRIAN RAINE AND ANGELA SCERBO
2. Methodological and Measurement Issues in the Study of the Neuropsychology of
Aggression 27
THOMAS R. McCANNE
3. Assessing Violent Behavior with Self-Reports 47
DAVID HUIZINGA
4. Neuropsychological Studies ofJuvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Violence 67
TERRIE E. MOFFITT AND BILL HENRY
5. Neuropsychology of Violent Behavior: Controversial Issues and New
Developments in the Study of Hemisphere Function 93
ISRAEL NACHSON
6. Biological Correlates of Gender Differences in Violence 117
CYNTHIA J. SCHELLENBACH
7. Neuropsychological Correlates of Physical Child Abuse 131
JOEL S. MILNER AND THOMAS R. McCANNE
8. Physiological Reactivity of Physically Abusive and At-Risk Subjects to
Child-Related Stmuli 147
THOMAS R. McCANNE AND JOEL S. MILNER
v
vi Contents
9. The Neuropsychology of Marital Aggression 167
ALAN ROSENBAUM
Index 181
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Bill Henry, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 1202 West
Johnson St., Madison, WI 53706
David Huizinga, Denver Youth Survey, Institute of Behavioral Science,
Campus Box 442, University of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder, CO
80309-0442
Thomas R. McCanne, Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois
University, DeKalb, IL 60115
Joel S. Milner, Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University,
DeKalb, IL 60115
Terrie E. Moffitt, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 1202
West Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706
Israel Nachson, Department of Criminology, Bar Han University, Ramat
Gan 52 900, Israel
Adrian Raine, Department of Psychology, Seeley G. Mudd Building,
University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA
90089-1147
Alan Rosenbaum, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts
Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue, N orth, Worcester, MA 01655
Angela Scerbo, Department of Psychology, Seeley G. Mudd Building,
University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA
90089-1147
Cynthia J. Schellenbach, Department of Psychology, University of Notre
Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
vii
PREFACE
This book reviews putative neurological and neuropsychological factors in
aggressive behavior. Discussions focus on explanatory models, brain sites,
and cognitive functions that appear to be associated with aggressive behavior.
Attention is given to measurement and design problems that are frequently
encountered in the study of aggression. Further, it is emphasized that any
relationship between neuropsychological factors and aggressive behavior will
be complex. Neuropsychological factors must be considered in the context
of mediating and moderating (precipitating and buffering) variables from
other ecological levels (e.g., family support). Even if perpetrator neuro
psychological factors are found to be reliably associated with aggression, it
will still be necessary to demonstrate the extent to which different neuro
psychological factors are marker or are causal variables in aggressive
behavior. Finally, since there has been a major societal and professional
interest in the study of aggression within the family, several chapters focus
on the possible neurological, neuropsychological, and physiological aspects
of family violence.
Chapter 1, entitled "Biological Theories of Violence," written by Adrian
Raine and Angela Scerbo, provides a theoretical context for understanding
the role of biological factors in aggression. This chapter begins with a
discussion of conceptual issues and methodological problems that impede
theory development and research in aggression. Following this discussion,
the authors present theories that may lead to a better understanding of the
ix
x Preface
neurological and cognitive components of aggression. The presentation of
each theory is followed by a discussion of theory-related research. The
chapter concludes with suggestions for future research.
Chapters 2 and 3 expand on the discussion of design and measurement
issues presented in Chapter 1. Chapter 2, entitled "Methodological and
Measurement Issues in the Study of the Neuropsychology of Aggression,"
by Thomas R. McCanne, describes definitional and assessment issues.
Chapter 3, entitled "Assessing Violent Behavior with Self-Reports," by
David Huizinga, continues the discussion of measurement issues by focusing
on the important dependent variable problem of how to accurately measure
aggressive behavior. Self-report measures and other types of aggression
measures are critically compared.
The next three chapters focus on juvenile and adult neurological and
neuropsychological correlates of aggressive behavior. Chapter 4, entitled
"Neuropsychological Studies ofJ uvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Violence,"
by Terrie E. Moffitt and Bill Henry, provides a research summary based on
an extensive literature review that describes the role of neuropsychological
factors in delinquency, including the relationship between neuropsychological
deficits and juveniles , violent behavior. Chapter 5, entitled "Neuropsychology
of Violent Behavior: Controversial Issues and New Developments in the
Study of Hemisphere Function," by Israel Nachson (new spelling preferred
by Dr. Nachson), provides a scholarly discussion of the evidence regarding
the association between aggressive behavior and hemisphere function, a
literature to which Professor Nachson has made major contributions. Al
though the literature base is sparse, Chapter 6, entitled "Biological Correlates
of Gender Differences in Violence," written by Cynthia J. Schellenbach,
provides an overview of possible gender differences in violent behavior, with
an emphasis on female violence against children.
Expanding on the family violence issues introduced in Chapter 6, the final
three chapters specifically focus on a new area of aggression research, the
study of the biological correlates of family aggression. Chapter 7, entitled
"Neuropsychological Correlates of Physical Child Abuse," by Joel S. Milner
and Thomas R. McCanne, describes a diverse and fragmented literature
that suggests a role for neuropsychological factors in physical child abuse.
Possible perpetrator and victim neuropsychological factors are discussed.
Chapter 8, entitled "Physiological Reactivity of Physically Abusive and At
Risk Subjects to Child-Related Stimuli," by Thomas R. McCanne and Joel S.
Milner, systematically summarizes and critiques all of the published research
on the physiological reactivity of physical child abusers and at-risk parents to
child-related stimuli. Chapter 9, entitled "The Neuropsychology of Marital
Aggression," by Alan Rosenbaum, examines another area of family violence,
spouse abuse. Data are provided that suggest the possibility of a substantial
role for neuropsychological factors in ·domestic violence. Although there is
still a paucity of data on the extent to which biological factors, especially
Preface xi
neurological and neuropsychological factors, contribute to physical assaults
on children and spouses in the family, the theory and data discussed in these
three chapter indicate that additional inquiry into the role of biological factors
in family violence is warranted.
The editor desires to express his appreciation to Kala Downs and Julie
Crouch for their excellent editorial assistance in the preparation of this book.