Predicting aggression through perspiration

Infants who sweat less in response to scary situations at age one show more physical and verbal aggression at age three, according to new research by Cardiff University. Lower levels of sweat, as measured by skin conductance activity (SCA), have been linked with conduct disorder and aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents. Leader of the study, Professor Stefanie van Goozen of Cardiff University's School of Psychology hypothesizes that "aggressive children may have lower levels of physiological arousal because they don't experience the same level of emotional arousal in response to fearful situations as their less aggressive peers. Because they have a weaker fear response, they are more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour." Researchers in the School of Psychology wanted to know whether the link between low SCA and aggressive behaviours could be observed even as early as infancy. To investigate this, researchers attached recording electrodes to infants' feet at age one and measured their skin conductance at rest, in response to loud noises, and after encountering a fear-inducing remote-controlled robot. Data was also collected on their aggressive behaviours at age three, as rated by the infants' mothers. The results revealed that one-year-old infants with lower SCA at rest and during the robot encounter were more physically and verbally aggressive at age three.