The Neuropsychology Of Aggression (advances In Behavioral Biology)

This volume is based on papers presented at a Workshop on the Neuropsychology of Aggression held at Newport Beach, California in March 1974. The Workshop was sponsored by the Neuropsy­ chology Research Review Committee of the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant #MH-23355-0l) and by the Department of Psychobiology of the University of California, Irvine. The goal of the Workshop was to review contemporary approaches to the study of aggression. Thus, the chapters of this book cover not only conceptual issues, but also experimental tech­ niques of genetic analysis, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology and neuroendocrinology. It is hoped that these chapters will be of value to investigators of the many important problems of the nature of the biology of aggression. Especial thanks go to Mrs. Chris Johnson who played a major role both in organizing the Workshop and in preparing the manuscripts for publication. In the latter task Miss Sue McKenney also participated and deserves thanks. Richard E. Whalen v Contents Aggression and the Evolution of Man ..•.•.•..•..••• 1 Ashley Montagu Conceptual and Methodological Problems Associated with the Study of Aggressive Behavior in Primates under Seminatural 33 Conditions ....................... , ............... . G. Gray Eaton Experimental Analysis of Aggression and 53 its Neural Basis •..•...•...••....•.....•.....••.•. John P. Flynn Neurophysiological Approaches to the 65 Study of Aggression .••••...•.•.•.............•.... Adrian A. Perachio and Margery Alexander 87 Behavioral Genetic Analyses of Aggression ........ . 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 Front Matter....Pages i-viii Aggression and the Evolution of Man....Pages 1-32 Conceptual and Methodological Problems Associated with the Study of Aggressive Behavior in Primates under Seminatural Conditions....Pages 33-51 Experimental Analysis of Aggression and Its Neural Basis....Pages 53-64 Neurophysiological Approaches to the Study of Aggression....Pages 65-86 Behavioral Genetic Analyses of Aggression....Pages 87-98 Neuroanatomical Techniques for Neurobehavioral Research....Pages 99-123 Physiological and Pharmacological Analysis of Behavior....Pages 125-147 Hormone-Behavior Analysis....Pages 149-164 The Study of Human Aggression....Pages 165-184 On Aggressive Behavior and Brain Disease — Some Questions and Possible Relationships Derived from the Study of Men and Monkeys....Pages 185-210 Back Matter....Pages 211-214