This chapter of the handbook inspects the relationship between antisociality and morality from the dual perspectives of moral psychology and moral neuroscience. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of research on the moral cognition of different types of antisocial individuals. Based on their review of the research, they suggest that the capacity for moral reasoning in psychopathy is less defective than generally assumed. While the propensity of psychopathic individuals to engage in immoral behavior is due largely to affective deficits, it also stems from dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying moral decision making. This simple narrative, however, is complicated by the fact that there is no single explanation of the immoral behavior exhibited by the full range of antisocial individuals. For example, while dysfunction in the neural circuitry of moral decision making may account for the immoral behavior of individuals with primary psychopathy and individuals prone to proactive aggression, it is less apt for explaining similar behavior by individuals with secondary psychopathy and a propensity for reactive aggression.

In Chapter 4 we discuss the pitfall of associating positive and negative values with political actors, including both individuals such as Trump or Biden, and political entities such as the US and the EU. In our view, such an association is problematic and dangerous because it precludes approaching language and politics in a more neutral way. As a case study, we analyse the transcript of an unofficial tape recording in which representatives of the EU – which is often regarded as a democratic organisation – attempted to prevent the newly established Slovenian and Croatian states from declaring independence following plebiscites. We use strictly linguistic evidence to illustrate the rather undemocratic procedure through which representatives of the EU – who were supposed to be the upholders of democracy – aggressively persuaded Slovenians and Croatians to temporally suspend declaring independence, hence opposing the results of valid plebiscites.

In Chapter 9, we look at how the pragmatician can capture the interactional dynamics of seemingly confusing cases of aggression in mediated political settings. In mediated scenes of politics, conflict may evolve in a seemingly ad hoc way, and in order to be able to analyse such settings it is necessary to linguistically analyse exactly what is happening in them. As a case study, we present a corpus of heckling incidents, including cases such as when the previous US first lady Michelle Obama was heckled in public. We argue that while heckling appears as a ‘disorderly’ incident, manifestations of heckling can be systematically categorised into major types, which impose different ritual frames on the public speaker being heckled. Following this view, our analysis shows that heckling is a standard situation in which the participants actually follow conventional forms of behaviour.

Richard Tremblay started his professional career as a clinician with juvenile delinquents and mentally ill offenders. He spent the rest of his career doing longitudinal and experimental studies to identify effective preventive interventions during the preschool and elementary school years. Results from these studies showed that early interventions with at risk children and their parents had very long-term impacts. Within these longitudinal studies, he also studied genetic and epigenetic effects on the development of violent behavior.

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a mental condition in which a person exhibits a pattern of repeated disregard for and violation of others’ rights. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides the framework for diagnosing ASPD. The prevalence rate of ASPD is high in prisons. Genetics, epigenetics, neuroscience, sociology, epidemiology, psychology, and other behavioral science fields have attempted to find a primary etiology. Despite decades of research, the precise etiology of ASPD has not been found, and its pathophysiology remains a complex question. The interaction between genes and the environment appears to be a significant factor in the development of ASPD. Brain imaging in subjects with ASPD has revealed structural brain changes in those with ASPD. Individuals with ASPD are challenging to manage for health care providers because of their complicated clinical presentation, high comorbidity of medical and mental disorders, lack of licensed pharmacotherapies for ASPD, and increased utilization of healthcare resources. ASPD requires tremendous effort from treating clinicians. Clinicians can successfully manage individuals with ASPD if they remain aware of the unique challenges of these patients while thoughtfully applying available research.

Aggression is often defined with reference to the intended consequences of an act exhibited by a person, or as any behaviour exhibited by a person where they intentionally acted to cause harm to another. Behaviours which cause harm but without associated intent tend not to be defined as aggression. Some people with intellectual disability may engage in behaviours with intent to cause harm to another, while for others, especially those with severe to profound intellectual disability, an absence of intent may exist. Aggressive behaviour exhibited by people with intellectual disability can take the form of verbal threats, physical aggression directed towards others including punching, kicking, slapping and biting, amongst other behaviours, as well as property damage and destruction. Aggressive behaviour can cause serious harm to others which may be life-threatening and result in social exclusion and a reduced quality of life. This chapter provides an overview of severe aggression and self-injurious behaviour relevant to people with disorders of intellectual development, and focuses on the evidence base for the various challenging behaviours and whether there is benefit from medication or alternative approaches.

Agitation is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that is commonly seen in those with major neurocognitive disorders. Those demonstrating agitation can show increase in motor activity, restlessness, emotional distress, and physical or verbal aggression. Agitation is the third most common neuropsychiatric symptom in dementia after apathy and depression. Up to 80% of people with dementia experience some degree of agitation at some point during the course of the illness. The pharmacologic management of agitation in those with major neurocognitive disorders is complex and many studies have shed light on the topic.

Biopsychosocial-spiritual distress, also known as agitation, can be experienced by anyone with unmet biological needs, safety needs, need for love and belonging, and need for self-actualization. Signs of potential biopsychosocial-spiritual distress can include: restlessness, aggression, agitation, sundowning, wandering, exit seeking, social withdrawal, repetitive behaviors, and increased anxiety. Common unmet biopsychosocial needs in long-term care can include loneliness, boredom, pain, hunger, toileting issues, difficulty communicating needs, medical interventions, changes in routine, interpersonal conflicts, staff issues, and issues with other residents. Potential signs of psychosis in those with major neurocognitive disorders can include screaming out, picking at the skin, extreme agitation with personal care, talking to oneself, signs of compulsive behaviors, and the presence of paranoia. The presence of psychosis in major neurocognitive disorder may warrant the use of antispsychotic angents.

Abstract: Chapter 4 tells stories of mischievous, naughty and fierce boys and girls, prompting us to rethink gendered moralities and how they are learned in childhood. Systematic behavioral analyses reveal gendered patterns in children’s moral experience, for example, boys initiate physical aggression, dominance and swearing more than girls, but girls assert themselves in more subtle ways, such as through tattling and scolding. I further explore how children’s learning of authority, aggression, boyhood, and violence is shaped by their family life as well as the larger historical trends. The chapter also examines how young girls understand their own situations and defend themselves. Despite the entrenched son-preference in this community, little girls are far from passive or submissive. To honor Arthur Wolf’s legacy on marriage and adoption and offer new insights on young girls’ emotional experience, which was not addressed in Wolf’s previous works, I present the case of an adopted daughter: an “unruly” girl who defies parental commands, asserts her own will, and negotiates love-hate relationships with different family members.