The DOI matches its Crossref record; 49 of the 49 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Cortisol, callous-unemotional traits, and pathways to antisocial behavior
Abstract
Purpose of review Two decades of research has implicated the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the development of antisocial behavior in children. However, findings regarding the association between cortisol and antisocial behavior have been largely inconsistent, and the role of the HPA axis in relation to broader etiological processes remains unclear. We examine evidence that the role of the HPA axis in the development of antisocial behavior may differ across subgroups of children. Recent findings A meta-analysis has supported the prediction that low levels of cortisol are associated with risk for childhood antisocial behavior, but the relationship is weaker than previously assumed. Recent studies suggest the association between cortisol levels and antisocial behavior may vary depending on type of antisocial behavior, patterns of internalizing comorbidity, and early environmental adversity. The findings are consistent with evidence that two early-onset pathways to antisocial behavior can be distinguished based on the presence or absence of callous-unemotional traits. Summary We speculate that early adversity is important to the development of chronic antisocial behavior in children with low levels of callous-unemotional traits and HPA-axis hyperactivity, but that high levels of callous-unemotional traits and HPA-axis hypoactivity characterize a particularly severe subgroup, for whom antisocial behavior develops somewhat independently of adversity.
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“However, our findings align well with evidence that a particularly severe subgroup of children with antisocial behavior show hypoactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis50,51.”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Hawes, D. J., Brennan, J., & Dadds, M. R.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Hawes, David J
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 357-362
- ISSN
- 0951-7367 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2075978703
- Cited by
- 149
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 1.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- cortisol, callous-unemotional traits, antisocial behavior, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, childhood antisocial behavior, HPA axis hyperactivity, developmental pathways
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Animals, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Arousal, Circadian Rhythm, Emotions, Empathy, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Internal-External Control, Life Change Events, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Risk Factors, Social Environment, Socialization, Personal Construct Theory, Conduct Disorder, Rats
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