Structural brain differences in emotional processing and regulation areas between male batterers and other criminals: A preliminary study

Verdejo‐Román, Juan; Bueso‐Izquierdo, Natalia; Daugherty, Julia C.; Pérez-Garcı́a, Miguel; Hidalgo‐Ruzzante, Natalia

doi:10.1080/17470919.2018.1481882

Cited by 20 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Bueso-Izquierdo et al (2016) found that batterers, compared with other criminals, showed activation of the medial prefrontal cortex, the PCC, and the left angular gyrus when they saw images of IPV, but not of GV. Verdejo-Roma´n et al (2019) have also found lower volume in the areas related to emotional processing compared with other delinquents. These results, together with those presented here, point to the possibility that violent crimes against women should be considered as a type of offense that is distinct from other crimes against people (Moffitt et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…(2016) found that batterers, compared with other criminals, showed activation of the medial prefrontal cortex, the PCC, and the left angular gyrus when they saw images of IPV, but not of GV. Verdejo-Román et al. (2019) have also found lower volume in the areas related to emotional processing compared with other delinquents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…(2016) found similar patterns of brain activity to those reported by Lee et al (2008, 2009) in emotional areas and areas of the default mode network (DMN) when they were watching IPV images. Moreover, some studies have also reported structural brain differences between batterers and other criminals (Verdejo-Román et al., 2019), although these differences are not related to the presence of brain damage (Bueso-Izquierdo et al., 2019). The results of recent and preliminary brain imaging studies suggest differences in brain functioning in batterers when they are processing images of IPV compared with that of noncriminal controls and other criminals, but it is not clear how their brains function in terms of more specific, relevant dimensions of IPV such as moral decisions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

“Would You Allow Your Wife to Dress in a Miniskirt to the Party”?

Marín‐Morales

Bueso‐Izquierdo

Hidalgo‐Ruzzante

et al. 2020

J Interpers Violence

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Moral convictions consist of assessments based on perceptions of morality and immorality, of right and wrong. There are people who, based on morality, commit crimes. For instance, social and moral norms based on inequality appear to play an important role in the batterer’s behavior to commit violent acts. Research shows that batterers consider themselves to be moral persons, are defenders of their beliefs, and, if necessary, are self-delusional, enjoying a “feeling” of moral worth. The main aim of this work was to uncover the brain mechanisms underlying moral decision making related to intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. We conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study comparing moral decisions related to IPV and general violence (GV) in a sample of convicted Spanish men. The two groups of our sample were recruited from the Center for Social Insertion (CSI; Granada, Spain): batterers (BG, n = 21), people convicted for IPV, and other criminals (OCG, n = 20) convicted of violating other legal norms without violence against people. Greene’s classical dilemmas were used to validate IPV and GV dilemmas. First, our results showed that IPV and GV dilemmas activate the same brain areas as those activated by Greene’s dilemmas, primarily involving the default mode network (DMN), which suggests that IPV and GV dilemmas are both moral dilemmas. Second, our results showed that other criminals activated the DMN during both types of dilemmas. Nevertheless, batterers activated the DMN during the GV dilemmas but not during the IPV ones, suggesting that decisions about their female partners do not entail moral conflict. Thus, these preliminary results showed that batterers do not activate moral areas during IPV dilemmas specifically, but do so during GV dilemmas. These results suggest that intervention programs for batterers should aim to specifically modify the value system held by the abuser toward his female partner and not toward other people.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Would You Allow Your Wife to Dress in a Miniskirt to the Party”?

Marín‐Morales

Bueso‐Izquierdo

Hidalgo‐Ruzzante

et al. 2020

J Interpers Violence

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“…EMOTIONAL REGULATION BRAIN IN OFFENDERS partner coercive men have reduced volumes and cortical thickness in regions involved in emotional processing (Verdejo-Román et al, 2019;Zhang et al, 2013). Zhang et al (2013) found that alcoholdependent partner coercive men had a lower volume of the right amygdala compared with controls and a group of nonviolent alcohol-dependent individuals.…”

Section: Brain Mechanisms In Partner Coercive Menmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower brain volume and poorer emotional regulation in partner coercive men and other offenders.

Marín‐Morales¹,

Pérez-Garcı́a²,

Catena³

et al. 2022

Psychology of Violence

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Objective: Deficits in emotional regulation could play a key role in the violence shown by partner coercive men toward their female partners or ex-partners. Because previous structural neuroimaging studies have revealed a link between violent behavior and brain regions associated with emotion, the present study compared convicted partner coercive men, other convicted offenders, and nonoffenders regarding the volume of brain regions linked to emotional regulation. Method: The Partner Coercive Group (PCG, n = 26) was composed of men incarcerated for a crime of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); the Other Offenders Group (OOG, n = 29) consisted of men incarcerated for crimes other than IPV; and the Nonoffenders Group (NOG, n = 30) was composed of men without any criminal record. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to calculate the brain volume of selected regions. Results: The results indicate that the PCG showed a lower brain volume in the right Accumbens (NAcc) and the left dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC). In addition, it was observed that the lower the volume of these structures, the lower the scores on emotional regulation and empathy. However, the brain volumes of these regions did not differ between partner coercive men and other offenders. Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that violence shown by partner coercive men toward their partners or ex-partners cannot be explained exclusively in terms of brain volume differences because the groups of offenders did not differ in this regard. These findings, however, suggest that lower volumes of brain regions involved in emotional regulation are linked to general criminal behavior.

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“…Research has investigated perpetrators of IPV, using MRI to identify changes in brain activity and structure that may influence the propensity for committing IPV, including evidence that reduced DMN activation suggests perpetrators do not view IPV-related decisions towards their partners as a moral conflict ( Marín-Morales et al, 2020 ), a higher ratio of dorsal/ventral medial prefrontal cortex reactivity gradient is indicative of increased aggression in IPV perpetration ( Chester and DeWall, 2019 ), perpetrators exhibit differential activation of the cingulate and prefrontal cortices in response to IPV imagery ( Bueso-Izquierdo et al, 2016 ), and may have structural deficits in the amygdala ( Zhang et al, 2013 ), with alterations in cortical gray matter thickness among perpetrators of IPV ( Verdejo-Román et al, 2019 ). It is crucial to identify how we can improve the quality of care for existing and future survivors of IPV by increasing awareness and further emphasizing the importance of screening for TBI among at-risk individuals to improve health outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Injury and Mental Health Among the Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Case-Series Exploratory Study

et al. 2021

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Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors frequently report face, head, and neck as their injury site. Many mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are undiagnosed or underreported among IPV survivors while these injuries may be linked to changes in brain function or pathology. TBI sustained due to IPV often occurs over time and ranges in severity. The aim of this case-series study was to explore risk factors, symptoms, and brain changes unique to survivors of intimate partner violence with suspicion of TBI. This case-series exploratory study examines the potential relationships among IPV, mental health issues, and TBI. Participants of this study included six women: 3 women with a history of IPV without any experience of concussive blunt force to the head, and 3 women with a history of IPV with concussive head trauma. Participants completed 7T MRI of the brain, self-report psychological questionnaires regarding their mental health, relationships, and IPV, and the Structured Clinical Interview. MRI scans were analyzed for cerebral hemorrhage, white matter disturbance, and cortical thinning. Results indicated significant differences in resting-state connectivity among survivors of partner violence as well as differences in relationship dynamics and mental health symptoms. White matter hyperintensities are also observed among the survivors. Developing guidelines and recommendations for TBI-risk screening, referrals, and appropriate service provision is crucial for the effective treatment of TBI-associated IPV. Early and accurate characterization of TBI in survivors of IPV may relieve certain neuropsychological consequences.

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Structural brain differences in emotional processing and regulation areas between male batterers and other criminals: A preliminary study

Cited by 20 publications

References 38 publications

“Would You Allow Your Wife to Dress in a Miniskirt to the Party”?

“Would You Allow Your Wife to Dress in a Miniskirt to the Party”?

Lower brain volume and poorer emotional regulation in partner coercive men and other offenders.

Brain Injury and Mental Health Among the Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Case-Series Exploratory Study

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