Antisociality in Men Who Perpetrate Domestic Violence: Heterogeneity, Psychophysiological and Neurocognitive Factors

• Main Author: Lishak, Victoria
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Neurosciences; Psychology
• ISBN: 0355531461; 9780355531466

Despite the overlap between generally antisocial and criminal populations and those involved in domestic violence, the fields of domestic violence and criminology have historically been separated from each other. While the field of domestic violence has made considerable advances in the understanding of heterogeneity, internalizing psychopathology and the general antisociality of men who perpetrate such violence, less is known about the neurobiological and neurocognitive factors that underlie the development of antisocial behaviour in this population. This dissertation combines domestic violence and criminological approaches to understanding of antisociality in men who perpetrate domestic violence. The dissertation is comprised of two papers. The first examined variables related to history of maltreatment and antisocial behaviours, internalizing psychopathology and neurocognitive and psychophysiological variables in three groups of male participants: men with a history of domestic violence perpetration and criminal behaviours (n=56), men who only perpetrated domestic violence (n=56) and a comparison group with no history of violence perpetration (n=82). The two domestic violence groups were distinguishable on most measures, with the domestically violent and criminal men scoring highest on measures of childhood antisociality, internalizing psychopathology and maltreatment history. Furthermore, the domestically violent and criminal group was unique with respect to some psychophysiological and cognitive variables. The domestic violence only group resembled the comparison group in most domains. The second paper examined the relationship of autonomic and neurocognitive functioning with antisociality in men who perpetrate domestic violence by comparing the low arousal and the neurovisceral integration theories. The sample (n=185) included men with varying history of domestic violence and criminal behaviour as well as those with no such history. Consistent with the neurovisceral integration theory, heart rate variability change to task and reversal learning impairments were predictive of antisociality. Contrary to the low arousal theory, autonomic reactivity and response inhibition impairments did not predict antisociality. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings were discussed.