Sex differences in temperament: A partial explanation for the sex difference in the prevalence of serious antisocial behaviors

Although temperamental traits, which refer to biologically based early-developing behavioral and emotional tendencies, have long been understood to be important constructs for understanding normal and abnormal development, their relevance to criminal justice has only recently been recognized. This paper extended belated recognition to an examination of how the sex difference in three temperamental dimensions contributed to the massive sex difference in the severest forms of antisocial behavior. The dimensions were attention/regulation, activity level, and emotionality. A plausible biological mechanism influencing each of these sex differences was also discussed.