Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
High resting heart rate protects against the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior: a birth cohort
Adrian Raine1, Olivia Choy2, Thomas Achenbach3
1Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, McNeil Building, Room 5473718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6286, USA. araine@sas.upenn.edu.
Abstract:
Although social influences have been identified that protect against the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior, there has been no prior research on biological protective factors. This study examines whether high resting heart rate may be one such factor. Resting heart rate was measured in 405 children of parents from a birth cohort, together with antisocial behavior in both the parent and the child. Children who were not antisocial, but had a parent high on antisocial behavior, had higher resting heart rates than all three other parent-child antisocial behavior groupings. Results withstood control for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, and psychosocial adversity. Robustness checks confirmed these results. Findings are the first to identify a biological protective factor against the intergenerational transmission of childhood antisocial behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Behavioral Characteristics and...
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Regression Toward the Mean
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types

