Abstract
The application of arousal theory to the study of criminality and psychopathy leads one to hypothesize that any behavior reflecting sub-optimal arousal should be more common among criminals and psychopaths than among their counterparts. In the present literature review, consistent support was found for this hypothesis by indicating the existence of substantial associations between criminality/psychopathy and the following eight behavior patterns: (1) resistance to punishment, (2) poor academic performance,or performance below intellectual potential, (3) impulsiveness, or minimal persistence at task assigned and coordinated by others, (4) childhood hyperactivity, (5) risk taking and sensation seeking, (6) recreation drug use, (7) preference for active social interactions, and (8) preference for broad-ranging sexual experiences and unstable pair bonding tendencies. Also consistent with arousal theory were numerous studies indicating that these eight behavior patterns were intercorrelated with one another. The conclusion suggested by this review was that criminality and psychopathy exists as part of a multi-variable cluster of behavior patterns which is a manifestation of sub-optimal arousal.
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