Skip to main content
Consensus Study Report

VIEW LARGER COVER

This volume contains commissioned reviews of research on biological influences on violent or aggressive behavior. The areas reviewed include genetic contributions to the probability of violent and related behaviors; brain structure and functioning as implicated in aggressive behavior; the roles of hormonal and neurological interactions in violent behavior; the neurochemistry of violence and aggression and its implications for the management of those behaviors; and dietary influences on violent behavior.

Suggested Citation

National Research Council. 1994. Understanding and Preventing Violence, Volume 2: Biobehavioral Influences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/4420.

Import this citation to:

Publication Info

560 pages |  6 x 9 |  Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-309-04649-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/4420
Chapters skim
Front Matter i-x
GENETIC MECHANISMS 1-2
STUDIES OF HUMANS 3-3
STUDIES OF ANIMALS 4-4
Steroids 5-7
Dopamine 8-8
Norepinephrine 9-9
Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine) 10-10
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - Benzodiazepine Receptors 11-11
NEUROANATOMIC APPROACH 12-12
NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC APPROACH 13-13
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC APPROACH 14-14
NEUROIMAGING APPROACH 15-15
HYPOGLYCEMIA, DIET, AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 16-16
REFERENCES 17-20
ANIMAL STUDIES 21-21
INTRODUCTION 22-23
CHROMOSOMAL ANOMALIES 24-25
GENETICS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS 26-29
Juvenile Antisocial Behavior 30-31
NORWEGIAN TWIN STUDY 32-32
Danish Twin Study 33-33
Danish Adoption Studies 34-35
Swedish Adoption Study 36-37
Iowa Adoption Studies: Cadoret 38-38
VIOLENCE AND HUMAN GENETICS 39-41
Summary and Critical Overview of the Results 42-45
PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE HUMAN GENETIC RESEARCH 46-46
SOCIOBIOLOGY, EVOLUTIONARY THEORY, AND VIOLENCE 47-47
GENETICS, RACE, AND VIOLENCE 48-49
REFERENCES 50-58
The Neurobiology of Violence and Aggression 59-61
FELINE MODELS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR ELICITED BY BRAIN STIMULATION 62-62
ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE CAT 63-63
Afferent Connections 64-66
Efferent Connections 67-68
Afferent Connections 69-70
LIMBIC-MIDBRAIN MODULATION OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE CAT 71-72
NEUROPHARMACOLOGY OF AGGRESSION: THE OPIOID PEPTIDE SYSTEM 73-76
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS BASED ON DATA FROM STUDY OF FELINE MODELS OF AGGRESSION 77-77
Adaptive Versus Maladaptive Violence and Aggression: Animal and Human Models 78-78
Measuring the Dependent Variable 79-79
VIOLENCE IN PERSONS WITH NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS 80-80
Schizophrenia 81-81
Epilepsy 82-84
Aggression as an Epileptic Equivalent 85-85
Violent Offenders - Nonsex Crimes 86-86
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Pharmacotherapy 87-87
Psychosurgical Treatment of Violent Offenders 88-88
Treatment of Violence - A Commentary 89-89
SOCIAL CLASS, AGE, AND GENDER RELATED TO VIOLENCE 90-90
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC STUDIES RELATED TO VIOLENCE 91-91
Neurodevelopmental Issues 92-92
Possible Etiological Variables 93-94
Some Areas Not Addressed - Some Roads Not Traveled 95-98
REFERENCES 99-172
TERMINOLOGIES OF AGGRESSION 173-173
Potential for Harm or Damage 174-174
Aversiveness 175-175
Utilities of Aggression 176-176
Different Tests for Animal Aggression 177-178
HETEROGENEOUS NATURE OF HUMAN AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE 179-179
HORMONES AND AGGRESSION 180-180
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 181-181
DEFINING "HORMONE" 182-183
STUDIES INVOLVING HORMONES AND "AGGRESSION" 184-193
STUDIES ON NONPRIMATES 194-195
INFRAHUMAN PRIMATE STUDIES 196-196
HUMAN DATA 197-203
INFRAHUMAN PRIMATE STUDIES 204-204
HUMAN DATA 205-207
INFLUENCES OF SEX HORMONES ON ADULT AGGRESSIVE MOTIVATION 208-208
STUDIES ON NONPRIMATES 209-211
INFRAHUMAN PRIMATE STUDIES 212-213
HUMAN DATA 214-220
BODILY RHYTHMS AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 221-221
ADRENOMEDULLARY FUNCTION AND HUMAN AGGRESSION 222-222
EFFECTS OF HORMONES ON PERCEPTION 223-223
EXPERIENCE-INDUCED CHANGES IN HORMONAL STATUS OF THE RECEIVER 224-224
INFLUENCES OF FIGHTING ON ENDOCRINE FUNCTION IN MAMMALS 225-225
CONCLUSION 226-228
REFERENCES 229-244
NEUROSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE 245-246
TYPES OF AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 247-247
NEUROCHEMISTRY AND NEUROPHARMACOLOGY OF AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE 248-248
Noradrenergic Correlates of Animal Aggression 249-249
Dopaminergic Correlates of Animal Aggression 250-250
Catecholaminergic Correlates Of Human Aggression And Violence 251-251
Neuropharmacologic Manipulations of Catecholamines 252-254
SEROTONIN 255-255
5-HT Correlates of Animal Aggression 256-256
Neuropharmacologic Manipulations of 5-HT in Animals 257-260
5-HT Correlates of Human Aggression and Violence 261-262
CONCLUDING STATEMENT 263-263
Gaba Correlates of Animal Aggression 264-264
Neuropharmacologic Modulation of GABA 265-265
ACETYLCHOLINE 266-267
ANTIPSYCHOTICS 268-270
ANTIDEPRESSANTS 271-271
Noradrenergic and Serotonergic Reuptake Blockers and MAO Inhibitors 272-272
Lithium 273-274
ANXIOLYTICS 275-275
GABAA-BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR-CHLORIDE CHANNEL COMPLEX, AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE 276-278
Beta-Blockers 279-279
Concluding Statement 280-280
REFERENCES 281-514
INTRODUCTION 515-515
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES 516-517
EXPERIMENTAL STRATEGIES 518-519
SUGAR AND BEHAVIOR 520-520
SUGAR, HYPOGLYCEMIA, AND BEHAVIOR 521-522
SUGAR AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 523-525
RESEARCH NEEDS FOR ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF SUGAR ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 526-526
SUGAR AND ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER WITH HYPERACTIVITY 527-530
FOOD ADDITIVES AND ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER WITH HYPERACTIVITY 531-532
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD CHOLESTEROL AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 533-534
REFERENCES 535-540
Index 541-549

What is skim?

The Chapter Skim search tool presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter. You may select key terms to highlight them within pages of each chapter.

Copyright Information

The National Academies Press (NAP) has partnered with Copyright Clearance Center's Marketplace service to offer you a variety of options for reusing NAP content. Through Marketplace, you may request permission to reprint NAP content in another publication, course pack, secure website, or other media. Marketplace allows you to instantly obtain permission, pay related fees, and print a license directly from the NAP website. The complete terms and conditions of your reuse license can be found in the license agreement that will be made available to you during the online order process. To request permission through Marketplace you are required to create an account by filling out a simple online form. The following list describes license reuses offered by the NAP through Marketplace:

  • Republish text, tables, figures, or images in print
  • Post on a secure Intranet/Extranet website
  • Use in a PowerPoint Presentation
  • Distribute via CD-ROM
  • Photocopy

Click here to obtain permission for the above reuses. If you have questions or comments concerning the Marketplace service, please contact:

Marketplace Support
International +1.978.646.2600
US Toll Free +1.855.239.3415
E-mail: support@copyright.com
marketplace.copyright.com

To request permission to distribute a PDF, please contact our Customer Service Department at customer_service@nap.edu.

loading iconLoading stats for Understanding and Preventing Violence, Volume 2: Biobehavioral Influences...