Antisocial Behavior: Brain Mechanisms,Development, and Prevention

Professor Adrian Raine
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles

Abstract

There is increasing recognition that a dysfunctional brain in part accounts for antisocial, violent, and psychopathic behavior. This talk will: (1) present findings from brain imaging research that implicates structural and functional abnormalities of the prefrontal cortex in predisposing persons to antisocial and psychopathic behavior, (2) argue for the critical importance of the interaction between biological and environmental processes in predisposing persons to antisocial behavior, (3) outline prospective longitudinal research on obstetric and nutritional risk factors for aggression in children and adults; (4) present initial findings on crime prevention based on early environmental enrichment; (5) discuss implications of these findings for moral responsibility, blame, and punishment.