Biopsychosocial risk factors and violence The origins of criminal violent and homicidal behavior have their etiological lineage within a biopsychosocial framework

Violence and murder has its roots in biological, psychological, and sociological factors. This article will focus on one specific element of the biological aspects of violence and murder, specifically neurological and neuropsychological aspects. The author will provide a literature review contrasting structural brain abnormalities and dysfunction (neuropathology) and brain behavior (neuropsychological) relational attributes to violence, aggression, and homicidal behavior in particular. After reviewing the literature, the author will address how these brain related structural and functional correlates to violence are utilized in court proceedings. Specifically the article questions how expert witnesses can integrate neurological and especially neuropsychological data to address psycholegal issues such as mitigation, freewill, and moral culpability, especially within death penalty and murder cases. The author provides recommendations for the practicing forensic neuropsychologist evaluating homicide cases. Biopsychosocial risk factors and violence The origins of criminal violent and homicidal behavior have their etiological lineage within a biopsychosocial framework (Brennan & Raine, 1997; Buikhuisen, 1998; Eysenck, 1964; Fabian, 2009; Giancola, 1995; Moffitt, 1993). Violence and murder stem from a multitude of factors including social learning (Akers, 1985; Bandura, 1973) frustration-induced violence (Berekowitz, 1962), cognitive and moral development (Arbuthnot, Gordon, & Jurkovic, 1987; Chandler & Moran, 1990, Raine, 1993) mental disorder (Monahan, et al., 1991; Swanson, et al., 1990), environmental factors such as socioeconomic factors (Durant, et al., 1994 ) and violent victimization (Patchins, et al., 2006), family dynamics and dysfunction (Haapasalo & E. Pokela, 1999; McCord, 1991; Widom, 1989), genetics (Hutchings & Mednick, 1975), and substance abuse (H. White, R. Loeber, M. Stouthamer-Loeber, & D. Farrington 1999).