Citation

Babcock JC, Green CE, Webb SA, Yerington TP. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 2005; 114(3): 444-455.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5022, USA. jbabcock@uh.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0021-843X.114.3.444

PMID

16117581

Abstract

On the basis of studies finding heart rate deceleration among severely violent (SV) batterers (J. M. Gottman et al., 1995) and unsuccessful psychopaths (S. S. Ishikawa, A. Raine, T. Lencz, S. Bihrle, & L. Lacasse, 2001), this study compares the physiological reactivity of SV batterers (n=35) with low-level violent (LLV) batterers (n=37) and nonviolent men (n=21) during 2 laboratory tasks. Men's heart rate and skin conductance level were recorded during baseline, a conflict discussion, and a standardized anger induction. Results suggest that autonomic hyporeactivity is a risk marker for antisocial features among SV men, whereas autonomic hyperreactivity is a risk marker among LLV men. Psychophysiological responding appears to be a stronger correlate of general antisocial behavior than of intimate partner abuse.

Language: en