Frontal Lobe Dysfunction and Aggression: Conceptual Issues and Research Findings

The notion that there is a relationship between frontal lobe damage and aggression has been part of clinical lore for more than 50 years. However, although there is evidence for an association between general brain dysfunction and aggressive behavior, much of the evidence for a specific relationship between frontal lobe dysfunction and aggression has consisted of case reports. This article begins with a discussion of normal frontal lobe (i.e., executive) functions, followed by a description of the types of problems that result from frontal lobe damage. Conceptualization of the ways in which these frontal lobe deficiencies may be related to violence are offered, and relevant research regarding this relationship is reviewed  1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.