The Need to Incorporate Autonomic Arousal in Developmental and Life-Course Research and Theories

Abstract

Purpose: Although there is an extensive body of research on the relationship between autonomic measures of physiological arousal and crime and delinquency, little effort has been made to incorporate autonomic arousal into criminological theories. This article examines the empirical literature on the associations between autonomic arousal and key constructs that are included in developmental and life-course theories, including temperament, cognition, life events, and family factors. Method: For an illustrative approach, this article specifically focuses on two measures of physiological arousal, heart rate and skin conductance. Results: Salient features of the literature include empirical findings that suggest that social factors can affect autonomic functioning and that autonomic arousal levels can contribute to individual differences in psychological risk factors for offending. Conclusions: A biopsychosocial model is proposed to show how autonomic arousal can be incorporated into extant criminological theories. If autonomic measures of arousal are included in future developmental and life-course research, the explanation and prediction of offending will be increased.