Biosocial Research on Aggression and Delinquency of Young People

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

In the last decade there is increased interest in and research on neurobiological correlates, origins and consequences of aggression ande delinqinquency. Old controversies between proponents of social science versus neurobiological perspectives in criminology seem to get replaced by more integrative biopsychosocial views on the relations between different levels of analysis. Within this perspective, the panel presents various studies on biological research topics on antisocial behavior. The first paper shows that pregnancy and birth complications can be a risk for aggressive and delinquent behavior at preschool age, but only in intercation with the social risk of low family SES. The second paper investigates the relation between cortisol level and aggressive behavior at preschool age and asks whether the biological parameter also predicts later behavioral outcomes. The third paper shows that daytime sleepiness during adolescence correlates with antisocial behavior and even predicts crimes in adulthood. The fourth study investigated the consequences of incarceration on neurocognitive functioning in young inmates. It demonstrates not only a cognitive decline in custody, but also the potential of a cogntive-behavioral/mindfulness intervention to ameliorate a further decline.

Sub Unit

• Area III: Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Behavior / 1: Biological, Bio-social, and Psychological Perspectives

Individual Presentations

• Pregnancy and birth complications and externalizing behavioral problems in preschoolers: An empirical study - Friedrich Loesel, Cambridge University / University of Erlangen-Nuremberg; Ute Koglin, University of Oldenburg

• Adrenocortical Activity and Aggressive Behavior in Children - Doris Bender, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg; Friedrich Loesel, Cambridge University / University of Erlangen-Nuremberg; Mark Stemmler, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

• Adolescent daytime sleepiness as a risk factor for adult crime - Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania; Peter Venables, University of York

• Cognitive Decline as a Result of Incarceration and the Protective Effects of Mindfulness: A Randomized Controlled Trial - Rebecca Umbach, University of Pennsylvania; Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania; Noelle R. Leonard, New York University

Chair

• Friedrich Loesel, Cambridge University / University of Erlangen-Nuremberg