The Interrelationships of Male Criminal Violence
The article explores various interrelationships including independent contributions regarding three main constructs linked with male criminal violence. Significant constructs involve; psychopathy, antisocial parenting as well as neurodevelopmental insults where authors used a structural equation modeling. Authors further involved 868 subjects, who were violent offenders evaluated and treated at a maximum security psychiatric health facility (Harris, Lalumiere " Rice, 2001). After the study’s analysis, authors reported that psychopathy and neurodevelopmental insults are directly and independently related to criminal violence while on the other hand, antisocial parenting was related to both psychopathy and neurodevelopmental having no direct relationship to criminal violence (Harris et al., 2001). Additionally, results indicated that neurodevelopmental insults and psychopathy constructs were not interrelated. However, authors further noted that the study’s findings were not consistent under the lens of psychopathy as an evolved life history approach. In essence, an individual’s involving psychopathy and neurodevelopmental damage are separate developmental pathways in regards to the early life regarding criminal violence (Harris et al., 2001).
Three Main Theoretical Points
Neurodevelopmental Insults
Research studies have indicated that damages that occur in the temporal lobe structures such as the amygdale including various parts of the limbic systems are strongly linked to violent behavior (Harris et al., 2001). Diffuse bran damage linked with chronic or acute trauma is similarly related to violent behavior. The applications of neuropsychological tests to offenders have indicated deficits usually linked with prefrontal lobe function in regulatory and executive behavior. Recent neuroimaging studies suggested that antisocial and violent men have smaller prefrontal gray matter volumes as compared to other men. However, these violent and antisocial men do not demonstrate any brain lesions (Harris et al., 2001).
Various research studies recently presented evidence that suggested that neurological dysfunction is closely linked to violence while aggression and violence are associated with obstetrical complications (Harris et al., 2001). Participants responsible for non-shared environmental inconsistency underlying aggression are variables which, are related to medical challenges and problems occurring during gestation such as maternal substance abuse, high fever, exposure to toxins as well as toxemia. Other variables are complications happening during pregnant mothers’ labor and delivery such as low birth weight, prematurity and severe fetal distress (Harris et al., 2001).
Antisocial Parenting
For many years, research studies focused on the role of parenting and family variables in the process of developing aggression and violence using longitudinal methodologies (Harris et al., 2001). Such studies demonstrated that aggressive and violent children often ended up becoming violent adults. In this context, children who experience severe aggression and violent behavior earlier in the onset of their childhood are more likely to become severe, persistent, antisocial and aggressive adults. Early and severe childhood aggression are closely associated with inept, inconsistent parenting and maternal rejection (Harris et al., 2001). Further studies have proved that a display of parenting variables is linked with juvenile aggression such as divorce, spousal conflict, anti-sociality, substance abuse, psychiatric problems, and crime. Neglect and physical abuse experienced by children often leads to juvenile violence as a result of frequently witnessing parental battering (Harris et al., 2001).
Psychopathy
Psychopathy is a critical construct that has made most contributions towards the process of understanding aggression and criminal violence through the lens of psychopathy. Research studies have indicated that most psychopaths are often glib, selfish, superficial, grandiose, remorseless, unempathetic, deceitful and callous (Harris et al., 2001). Psychopath’s behavior is accompanied by various emotional setbacks such as irresponsibility, poor behavior control, impulsiveness, sexual promiscuity as well as the high need for excitement. Also, psychopaths demonstrate specific behaviors during their childhood such as juvenile delinquency, anti-sociality keen on taking advantage of other people and are attracted to versatile adult criminal violence (Harris et al., 2001). Nevertheless, psychopaths are disproportioned as not all of them commit violent or drawn towards criminal violent behavior. In this regard, violent offenses committed by psychopaths are quantified differently when compared to violent acts committed by other offenders (Harris et al., 2001).
Personal Thoughts
Considering all three constructs, psychopathy is the most severe illness where victims tend to demonstrate their violent nature after being exposed to various risk factors. Therefore, psychopaths may be induced to undergo psychotherapy with the aim of treating underlying mental conditions in addition to enabling them to identify and avoid risk factors that could lead to violent behavior. However, I believe that there is a possibility that psychopaths may be victims of other causal agents in regards to other constructs such as brain damage. Therefore, there is a great need for integrating various stakeholders with the aim of addressing the issue of male criminal violence as the current corrective measures may not adequately solve the problem.
Two Discussion Questions
Various healthcare stakeholders need to develop strategies which will seek to provide solutions that may help prevent criminal violence through clinical reasons such as labor and birth. Healthcare providers will play a leading role in the process of curbing crime in communities, which is committed by individuals who may be having health defects. Also, the government needs to develop better corrective measures provided to crime offenders since existing strategies in place have proved to be ineffective as evidenced by the current soaring number of offenders imprisoned. Additionally, emphasizing reforms in corrective institutions will help bring down the number of second-time offenders.
References
Harris T. G., Lalumiere M " Rice E. M. (2001). Criminal violence: The roles of psychopathy, neurodevelopmental insults, and antisocial parenting. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Vol. 28 No. 4 August 2001, 402-426
