Sex, aggression and impulse control: An integrative account

Authors: Struber, Daniel¹; Luck, Monika²; Roth, Gerhard¹

Source: Neurocase, Volume 14, Number 1, February 2008 , pp. 93-121(29)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $50.43 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

There is evidence that the male sex and a personality style characterized by low self-control/high impulsivity and a propensity for negative emotionality increase the risk for impulsive aggressive, antisocial and criminal behavior. This article aims at identifying neurobiological factors underlying this association. It is concluded that the neurobiological correlates of impulsive aggression act through their effects on the ability to modulate impulsive expression more generally, and that sex-related differences in the neurobiological correlates of impulse control and emotion regulation mediate sex differences in direct aggression. A model is proposed that relates impulse control and its neurobiological correlates to sex differences in direct aggression.

Keywords: Aggression; Violence; Psychopathy; Impulsivity; Personality; Sex differences; Molecular genetics; Imaging genomics; Testosterone; Serotonin

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13554790801992743

Affiliations: 1: Brain Research Institute, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany,Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg - Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst, Germany 2: Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg - Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst, Germany

Publication date: 2008-02-01