Violence in children and adults: A neurological view

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Pincus and Tucker was to provide a literature review of the research relating neurological damage to violent behavior. METHODOLOGY: This literature review, written from a neurological perspective, was divided into discussions of animal research; episodic violence in humans; psychomotor seizures and violence; effects of alcohol on violence; the etiology or causes of violent behavior; the treatment of violent behavior; and the prognosis of violent offenders. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: This study documented that animal research which has attempted to connect violent behavior to the neocortex, limbic system, and brainstem has been contradictory. However, there appeared to be evidence that stimulation or destruction of certain areas of the brain can lead to changes in behavior. Episodic or repetitive violence in humans tended to be found in certain types of individuals: mainly young males (5:1 ratio of men:women) who became violent in childhood and who remained violent for about thirty to forty years. Within this population, abnormal EEGs were also prevalent. When observing connections between psychomotor seizures and violence, this study found that the research was contradictory. These contradictions were said to be the result of methodological problems in the definitions of aggression, psychomotor seizures, normal EEG and violence; and problems in subject selection. It was also pointed out that brain damage or abnormal EEGs might be the result of head trauma caused by violent behavior. A large number of violent children and adolescents were found to have some sort of brain dysfunction. Pathological intoxication, the strong susceptibility to alcohol, was documented in many violent offenders. This study suggested a connection between pathological intoxication and violent behavior. A combination of environmental factors and neurological factors were identified as the causes of violent behavior. This study discussed the controversial assertion that mental illness involving violent behavior was genetically determined. The treatment of violent offenders was described as limited with anticonvulsant and antipsychotic drugs, psychosurgery, psychotherapy and environmental therapy all having only marginal success. The prognosis given for the majority of violent offenders was a poor one; however it was stressed that these offenders do usually reduce their violence with age. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors stressed the need to take into account the individual violent offender's history of assaultive behavior, alcoholism, seizures, and neurological disorders when decisions about their release from prison were discussed. The authors also stressed that the research literature connecting neurological problems with violent behavior is contradictory and incomplete. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) N1 - Call Number: F-420, AB-420 KW - Child Offender KW - Child Violence KW - Adult Offender KW - Adult Violence KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Literature Review KW - Animal Research KW - Brain Damage KW - Brain Disorder KW - Neurological Factors KW - Violence Causes KW - Psychological Factors KW - Environmental Factors KW - Genetic Factors KW - Violence Treatment KW - Alcohol Related Violence KW - Alcohol Use Effects KW - Biological Factors KW - Substance Use Effects KW - Substance Use-Violence Co-Occurence KW - Offender Substance Use KW - Adult Substance Use KW - Juvenile Substance Use KW - Child Substance Use Language: en