title: Psychophysiological profiles of batterers: autonomic emotional reactivity as it predicts the antisocial spectrum of behavior among intimate partner abusers.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6049-8988
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Babcock
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Yerington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology