Neuropsychology of Aggression and Mental Illness

Abstract

Examination of neuropsychological functioning, both in healthy populations and in individuals with brain injury, has provided important information with regard to lateralization of cognitive function, gender differences in neuropsychological performance, functional differences associated with disconnection syndromes, and cognitive capacity at various developmental stages. To date, a large body of research has focused not only on structural brain development but also on the maturation of individual neuropsychological domains and the process by which these domains become integrated during development (Webb et al., 2001). Among cognitive domains, the association between aggression and mental illness has been the focus of research due to the costs associated with anti-social personality disorders plaguing the criminal justice system. Aggression in terms of physical or mental illness often leads to behavioural problems both to the aggressor and victim. Aggressive tendencies at times closely related to mental health challenges which an individual might be facing, if not properly diagnosed, might lead to abnormalities and harm.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3873997