Sweetened blood cools hot tempers: physiological self-control and aggression

Abstract

Aggressive and violent behaviors are restrained by self-control. Self-control consumes a lot of glucose in the brain, suggesting that low glucose and poor glucose metabolism are linked to aggression and violence. Four studies tested this hypothesis. Study 1 found that participants who consumed a glucose beverage behaved less aggressively than did participants who consumed a placebo beverage. Study 2 found an indirect relationship between diabetes (a disorder marked by low glucose levels and poor glucose metabolism) and aggressiveness through low self-control. Study 3 found that states with high diabetes rates also had high violent crime rates. Study 4 found that countries with high rates of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (a metabolic disorder related to low glucose levels) also had higher killings rates, both war related and non-war related. All four studies suggest that a spoonful of sugar helps aggressive and violent behaviors go down.

Online Gaming, Internet Addiction, and Aggression in Chinese Male Students: The Mediating Role of Low Self-Control

“…However, this may have been due to the relatively small sample size (123 participants) in their study. The present finding that low self-control significantly predicts aggression concurs with the results of other studies (DeWall et al, 2011;Hamama & Ronen-Shenhav, 2012;Kim et al, 2008;Ozdemir et al, 2013).…”

“…Moreover, low self-control as a mediator between situational variables and aggression is supported by a wealth of research (DeWall et al, 2011;Li, Li, & Newman, 2013;Runions, 2013;Winstok, 2009). Low self-control could also play a mediating role in predicting aggression and violence (DeWall et al, 2011;Ozdemir, Vazsonyi, & Cok, 2013;Qu & Zou, 2009) as it has been shown to play a mediating role in situational variables (e.g., parenting processes) that predict aggression (Ozdemir et al, 2013). Other studies have demonstrated the mediating effect of parental behavior on aggression (Kim et al, 2008;Ronen, Abuelaish, Rosenbaum, Agbaria, & Hamama, 2012).…”

Low glucose relates to greater aggression in married couples

“…Poor glucose tolerance is a core feature of some conditions, such as diabetes. Other research has also shown that elevated diabetic symptoms relate to greater aggressiveness (12). Future work may explore whether poor glucose tolerance represents a risk factor for intimate partner violence.…”

“…Numerous studies have found a relationship between low glucose levels and poor self-control (8). For example, when glucose levels are low, people have more difficulty controlling their attention (9), regulating their emotions (10,11), and overriding their aggressive impulses (12). Some evidence suggests that low glucose levels might even increase the risk of violent criminal behavior, including spousal abuse (13).…”

Happiness as Surplus or Freely Available Energy

“…Self-control allows for emotional coping (e.g., regulating moods so as to increase happiness, Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice, 1998;Finkel & Campbell, 2001;Gailliot, Schmeichel, & Baumeister, 2006;Gailliot, Schmeichel, & Maner, 2006;Muraven & Slessareva, 2003;Schmeichel, Demaree, Robinson, & Pu, 2005;Schmeichel, Vohs, & Baumeister, 2003;Shamosh & Gray, 2006;Vohs, Baumeister, & Ciarocco, 2005) and is intrinsically tied with glucose metabolism (DeWall, Baumeister, Gailliot, & Maner, 2008;DeWall, Gailliot, Deckman, & Bushman, 2009;Fairclough & Houston, 2004;Gailliot, 2008Gailliot, , 2009bGailliot, , 2009dGailliot, Hildebrandt, Eckel, & Baumeister, 2009;Gailliot, Peruche, Plant, & Baumeister, 2009;Masicampo & Baumeister, 2008). A survey across nations indicated that the ability to cope is a primary determinant of happiness (Haller & Hadler, 2006).…”