ABSTRACT
This chapter is one of several that considers areas of biology that do not directly deal with genetics, although hormones and neurotransmitters are controlled by genes. It first provides a brief overview of the normal function of hormones and how they influence behavior. There is a very fine control kept on hormone levels through negative feedback mechanisms, and this system in turn is one of the controls of behavior. One of the most hotly contested areas in biological criminology relates to the “so-called male and female hormones” as well as their relationships with other hormones. Hormone imbalances are treated medically every day, and, as we will see, there is no reason why hormone imbalances that can cause antisocial behavior could not also be favorably treated.
