Examining How Testosterone and Cortisol Influence the Relationship Between Strain, Negative Emotions, and Antisocial Behavior: A Gendered Analysis

Abstract

This study provides a test of General Strain Theory by examining the relations between strain, negative emotions, and biological hormones in the prediction of antisocial behavior across gender. Findings from a diverse sample of 512 undergraduate students reveal that strain and the ratio between testosterone to cortisol reactivity are associated with higher levels of antisocial behavior in males, but not females. In contrast, the effect of depressive symptoms on antisocial behavior is stronger at higher levels of strain and ratio of testosterone to cortisol reactivity in females. Drug use and depressive symptoms were found to partly mediate the association between strain and antisocial behavior in females, but not males.

Biosocial Criminology: Moving Toward the Future

“…First, the articles highlight the need to study sub-groups of individuals and behavior. Cooke et al (2020), Ling et al (2020), and Fox et al (2020) all detected sex differences in relationships between biological factors and antisocial behavior. In addition, two studies in this special issue (Fox et al, 2020; Ling et al, 2020) examine psychopathy or CU traits, rather than antisocial behavior more generally.…”

“…A second common theme is the need to examine interactions between biological, psychological, and social risk factors. Four of the studies found some evidence of interactions between biological and social risk factors (Cooke et al, 2020; Farrington, 2020; Fox et al, 2020; Portnoy et al, 2020). As demonstrated by these articles, neither biological, psychological, nor social risk factors alone are likely to explain the etiology of criminal behavior and related outcomes.…”

“…Ling et al (2020) use brain imaging to examine the role of structural amygdala asymmetries in callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children. Cooke et al (2020) conduct a biospyschosocial analysis, using measures of depression, hormones, and psychological strain to predict antisocial behavior in adults. Fox, Bozzay, & Verona (2020) examine gene × environment interactions in predicting psychopathy in adults.…”

“…Finally, the articles in this special issue demonstrate ways in which broader criminological theory can be incorporated into biosocial research. Interestingly, both Schwartz et al (2020) and Cooke et al (2020) discuss strain theory in their articles, albeit in different ways. Cooke et al (2020) incorporate hormones into a test of General Strain Theory.…”

“…Interestingly, both Schwartz et al (2020) and Cooke et al (2020) discuss strain theory in their articles, albeit in different ways. Cooke et al (2020) incorporate hormones into a test of General Strain Theory. Interestingly, Schwartz et al (2020) argues that his results are inconsistent with strain theory, as he finds that delinquency appears to contribute to, rather than reduce stress, as would be predicted by strain theory.…”