Psychophysiology of anger and violent behavior

This article reviews psychophysiological findings related to the expression of emotional aggression (which is associated with anger) as well as other forms of violence and antisocial behavior. The main psychophysiological measures reviewed include skin conductance, heart rate, electroencephalogram, and event related potential. The relationship of violence to negative emotionality and poor emotion regulation ability, as reflected in psychophysiological and hormonal studies, is also reviewed. Concluding remarks suggest that different forms of aggressive or violent behavior may have different psychophysiological underpinnings. In particular, physiological underarousal may underlie instrumental/proactive aggression, while overarousal or physiological reactivity may underlie emotional/reactive aggression.