This prospective study analyzed relationships between skin conductance
and heart rate measures of orienting in a noninstitutionalized sample of
101 15-year-old male subjects and criminal behavior as assessed at age 24
years. Subjects with a criminal record at age 24 (N = 17) had significantly
smaller skin conductance responses and smaller heart rate deceleratory and
acceleratory responses than the other subjects (N = 84). Lack of any skin
conductance response was significantly more prevalent in subjects with a
criminal record (31%) than in the control subjects (10%). These results
implicate deficits in orienting with the later development of criminal
behavior. The authors hypothesize that the genetic predisposition to
criminal behavior may find its expression in part through smaller autonomic
orienting.
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