UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

This literature review highlights research completed to investigate the biological and behavioral abnormalities found with men and women with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), antisocial behaviors, and psychopathic traits. Evidence that suggests imbalances of the neurotransmitter serotonin and imbalances between the hormones cortisol and testosterone have been linked to aggressive and antisocial behaviors. There are also studies that suggests that abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system and in the corpus callosum may be linked to ASPD. However, most findings do not apply to women in particular, therefore emphasizes the need for gender-specific research in order to find potential causalities in both males and females with these mental disorders.