Menstruation and Aggressive Behavior in a Correctional Center for Women

Ellis, Desmond; Austin, Penelope

doi:10.2307/1142178

Cited by 28 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Despite the prevalence of these beliefs, there are only a few empirical studies providing support for this relationship between the menstrual cycle and aggressive, criminal, and other antisocial behaviors [Cowen, 1994;Horney, 1978]. While the early studies in this area have been criticized for their methodological problems [see Harry and Balcer, 1987], more recent studies have provided limited evidence for a relationship between aggression and menstrual cycle phase [Clare, 1985;d'Orban and Dalton, 1980;Ellis and Austin, 1971]. Dalton [1964] was one of the first researchers to study the relationship between crime and menstruation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of menstrual cycle phase on aggression measured in the laboratory

Dougherty¹,

Bjork²,

Cherek³

et al. 1998

Aggr. Behav.

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This study investigated the effects of menstrual cycle phase on aggression in two groups of women, which differed in the severity of their self-reported perimenstrual symptoms. A low-and a high-symptom group were recruited using the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) to define the groups. Twenty-two subjects (11 low and 11 high symptom) participated across one menstrual cycle: during the premenstrual, menstrual, midfollicular, and ovulatory phases. The Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm was used to assess aggression on each day of participation. There were three main findings; a) rates of aggressive responding did not vary across phases of the menstrual cycle; b) the high-symptom group emitted higher rates of aggressive responding across the menstrual cycle than did the low-symptom group; and c) rates of aggressive responding correlated with the MDQ's behavioral and psychological scales and not the somatic scales. These findings indicate that the menstrual cycle phase does not differentially affect this laboratory measure of aggression. The differences found between the two symptom groups parallel a few reports indicating that women who differ in retrospectively reported mood and behavioral changes related to their menstrual cycle also differ on a number of other psychometric measures. Aggr. Behav. 24:9-26, 1998.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of menstrual cycle phase on aggression measured in the laboratory

Dougherty¹,

Bjork²,

Cherek³

et al. 1998

Aggr. Behav.

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“…Since the description of the premenstrual tension syndrome by Frank (1931), there have been a number of studies on the relationship between phases of the menstrual cycle and behaviour in female offenders. Most investigators were concerned with women's behaviour in penal institutions (Dalton, 1961;Ellis & Austin, 1971) or in a special hospital (Hands et al 1974) and showed that female offenders were more liable to aggressive behaviour during the premenstrual and menstrual phases of their cycle. Morton et al (1953) reported that the treatment of premenstrual tension in female prisoners resulted in improved behaviour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Violent crime and the menstrual cycle

dʼOrbán

Dalton

1980

Psychol. Med.

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SYNOPSISOf 50 women charged with crimes of violence, 44% committed their offence during the paramenstruum (P < 0·02) and there was a significant lack of offences during the ovulatory and post-ovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle (P < 0·01). This association could not be accounted for by psychosocial factors. Offences were unrelated to symptoms of premenstrual tension. When considering treatment, recurrent behavioural changes rather than subjective symptoms should be looked for.

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“…Most writers on the subject have related the presumption to a theory of hormonal effects on behaviour. An association of violence and behavioural disorders with the premenstrual days has been proposed (Ellis & Austin, 1971) and sexual desire and sexual behaviour have been associated with menstrual rhythms (Udry & Morris, 1968). Other emotional states have been shown to vary according to menstrual patterns (Moos et al, 1969).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%