Andrea L. Glenn and Adrian Raine
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814777053
- eISBN:
- 9780814777077
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814777053.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Developmental Psychology
The last two decades have seen tremendous growth in biological research on psychopathy, a mental disorder distinguished by traits including a lack of empathy or emotional response, egocentricity, ...
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The last two decades have seen tremendous growth in biological research on psychopathy, a mental disorder distinguished by traits including a lack of empathy or emotional response, egocentricity, impulsivity, and stimulation seeking. But how does a psychopath's brain work? What makes a psychopath? This book provides a concise, non-technical overview of the research in the areas of genetics, hormones, brain imaging, neuropsychology, environmental influences, and more, focusing on explaining what we currently know about the biological foundations for this disorder and offering insights into prediction, intervention, and prevention. It also offers a nuanced discussion of the ethical and legal implications associated with biological research on psychopathy. How much of this disorder is biologically based? Should offenders with psychopathic traits be punished for their crimes if we can show that biological factors contribute? The text clearly assesses the conclusions that can and cannot be drawn from existing biological research, and highlights the pressing considerations this research demands.Less
The last two decades have seen tremendous growth in biological research on psychopathy, a mental disorder distinguished by traits including a lack of empathy or emotional response, egocentricity, impulsivity, and stimulation seeking. But how does a psychopath's brain work? What makes a psychopath? This book provides a concise, non-technical overview of the research in the areas of genetics, hormones, brain imaging, neuropsychology, environmental influences, and more, focusing on explaining what we currently know about the biological foundations for this disorder and offering insights into prediction, intervention, and prevention. It also offers a nuanced discussion of the ethical and legal implications associated with biological research on psychopathy. How much of this disorder is biologically based? Should offenders with psychopathic traits be punished for their crimes if we can show that biological factors contribute? The text clearly assesses the conclusions that can and cannot be drawn from existing biological research, and highlights the pressing considerations this research demands.
Henrik Hogh-Olesen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- September 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190927929
- eISBN:
- 9780190927950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190927929.003.0002
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
The chapter begins with the most basic driving forces behind the aesthetic impulse: the human animal’s ecological living conditions and our ultimate species characteristics as neophile and ...
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The chapter begins with the most basic driving forces behind the aesthetic impulse: the human animal’s ecological living conditions and our ultimate species characteristics as neophile and stimulation-seeking carnivore and food opportunist. Humans turn calorie intake into aesthetic activity, exploration, and play, instead of sleeping up to 16 hours a day as the big cats do after a successful hunt. Our stimulation-seeking nature and the concept of the optimal stimulation level (OSN) are mandatory for understanding the aesthetic impulse, that is, how and why the aesthetic forms change and develop, and why we are motivated toward art and aesthetics both as a species and as individuals.Less
The chapter begins with the most basic driving forces behind the aesthetic impulse: the human animal’s ecological living conditions and our ultimate species characteristics as neophile and stimulation-seeking carnivore and food opportunist. Humans turn calorie intake into aesthetic activity, exploration, and play, instead of sleeping up to 16 hours a day as the big cats do after a successful hunt. Our stimulation-seeking nature and the concept of the optimal stimulation level (OSN) are mandatory for understanding the aesthetic impulse, that is, how and why the aesthetic forms change and develop, and why we are motivated toward art and aesthetics both as a species and as individuals.
Dianna Murray-Close, Nicole L. Breslend, and Leigh Ann Holterman
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190491826
- eISBN:
- 9780190491840
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190491826.003.0009
- Subject:
- Psychology, Developmental Psychology
Mounting evidence implicates psychophysiological processes in the development of relational aggression. This review discusses the state of the field regarding associations between physiological ...
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Mounting evidence implicates psychophysiological processes in the development of relational aggression. This review discusses the state of the field regarding associations between physiological stress systems—including the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis—and relational aggression. The theoretical significance of these processes is discussed, and potential moderators of associations, such as functions of relational aggression, contextual risk, and gender, are considered. Finally, critical next steps in this research area, including the incorporation of additional physiological indicators, are reviewed. This research has the potential to advance our understanding of many of the significant questions in relational aggression research, such as who engages in relational aggression and why, and whether these behaviors result in negative or positive developmental outcomes.Less
Mounting evidence implicates psychophysiological processes in the development of relational aggression. This review discusses the state of the field regarding associations between physiological stress systems—including the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis—and relational aggression. The theoretical significance of these processes is discussed, and potential moderators of associations, such as functions of relational aggression, contextual risk, and gender, are considered. Finally, critical next steps in this research area, including the incorporation of additional physiological indicators, are reviewed. This research has the potential to advance our understanding of many of the significant questions in relational aggression research, such as who engages in relational aggression and why, and whether these behaviors result in negative or positive developmental outcomes.
Henrik Hogh-Olesen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- September 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190927929
- eISBN:
- 9780190927950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190927929.003.0007
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
Chapter 6 follows the aesthetic impulse full circle and explores the human need to decorate objects and surroundings, as well as the marking of property and status in the public domain. Furthermore, ...
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Chapter 6 follows the aesthetic impulse full circle and explores the human need to decorate objects and surroundings, as well as the marking of property and status in the public domain. Furthermore, it looks at phenomena such as folk art, street art, and graffiti. The purpose of the chapter is to show that such extravaganzas too make biological sense and thereby strengthen the argument that aesthetic behavior is natural for humans. Decorations signal personal fitness, ability, care, effort, resources, as well as power, because they ensure social status, for instance to attract more sexual partners. Like our body ornamentation, decoration is immediate communication transmitting key social and evolutionary information to the surroundings.Less
Chapter 6 follows the aesthetic impulse full circle and explores the human need to decorate objects and surroundings, as well as the marking of property and status in the public domain. Furthermore, it looks at phenomena such as folk art, street art, and graffiti. The purpose of the chapter is to show that such extravaganzas too make biological sense and thereby strengthen the argument that aesthetic behavior is natural for humans. Decorations signal personal fitness, ability, care, effort, resources, as well as power, because they ensure social status, for instance to attract more sexual partners. Like our body ornamentation, decoration is immediate communication transmitting key social and evolutionary information to the surroundings.
