Assessment of Aggressive Behavior and Plasma Testosterone in a Young Criminal Population

Abstract

 

Plasma testosterone, levels of fighting and verbal aggression in prison and past criminal behavior were studied in 21 young prisoners. In addition, several psychologic tests were administered. Analysis of plasma testosterone showed considerable stability of an individual's values over the 2-week study period, with highly significant differences observed between individuals. Plasma testosterone levels did not differ in fighting and nonfighting individuals. Although there were significant correlations between psychologic tests, the test scales did not correlate either with plasma testosterone or with fighting behavior. The 10 prisoners with histories of more violent and aggressive crimes in adolescence had a significantly higher level of testosterone than the 11 prisoners without such a history. An hypothesis is presented that within a population that is predisposed by virtue of social factors to develop antisocial behaviors, levels of testosterone may be an important additional factor in placing individuals at risk to commit more aggressive crimes in adolescence.