NCJ Number
55805
Date Published
1969
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THIS OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH ON THE BIOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL VIOLENCE OUTLINES WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT REMAINS TO BE DISCOVERED REGARDING THE EFFECT OF BRAIN DYSFUNCTION, GENETICS, BRAIN DISEASE, AND DRUGS ON AGGRESSION.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEAR THAT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS A REFLECTION OF BRAIN ORGANIZATION, RESEARCHERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT LASTING EFFECTS EARLY EXPERIENCE HAVE ON BRAIN ORGANIZATION (I.E., WHETHER CHANGES OCCUR WHICH ARE NOT REVERSIBLE BY LATER EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRE BIOLOGICAL INTERVENTION FOR MODIFICATION). MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN ABNORMALITIES OF A SPECIFIC BRAIN REGION--THE LIMBIC SYSTEM--SHOW LOSS OF CONTROL OF ANGRY FEELINGS AND DANGEROUS RECURRENT PHYSICAL ASSAULT ON OTHER INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS TRUE WHETHER THE ABNORMALITY IS CAUSED BY BIRTH INJURY, IMPAIRED DEVELOPMENT, TRAUMA, TUMOR, OR INFECTION. HOWEVER, SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT UNKNOWNS WHICH PREVAIL INCLUDE (1) THE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF THIS KIND OF COVERT ABNORMALITY, (2) THE ACTUAL SOCIAL RISK PRESENTED BY THIS POPULATION, AND (3) HOW MANY PERSONS GUILTY OF ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR HAVE SUCH ABNORMALITIES. IN ADDITION TO PRIMARY BRAIN DISEASE AS A DETECTABLE FACTOR IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE. IT IS CLEAR THAT POPULATIONS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED VIOLENT OFFENDERS HAVE AN INCIDENCE OF SUCH ABNORMALITIES 20 TO 50 TIMES THAT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION. BUT AGAIN, IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THOSE WITH ABNORMAL CHROMOSOME STRUCTURES ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHERS TO COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS, HOW CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES MODIFY BRAIN FUNCTION, AND WHAT THERAPEUTIC OR PREVENTIVE MEASURES COULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN MODIFYING THESE BEHAVIORS. WHILE MANY STUDIES AGREE THAT ENDOCRINE MECHANISMS ARE IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE THRESHOLD FOR AGGRESSIVENESS, IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW IMPORTANT THESE MECHANISMS ARE IN MAN NOR HOW BEST TO MODIFY THEM. ALTHOUGH SOME EMPIRICALLY DEVELOPED TREATMENT MODES ARE EFFECTIVE IN CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, SUCH AS PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS, NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES, AND REEDUCATIVE METHODS, RESEARCHERS HAVE YET TO DISCOVER WHICH AGENT OR PROCEDURE IS MOST LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN A GIVEN INSTANCE, HOW EFFECTIVE SUCH PROCEDURE MIGHT BE IN AN INVOLUNTARY ADULT POPULATION, AND HOW RATIONALLY TO DESIGN MORE EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC AGENTS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (KBL)