Evolutionary Roots of the Sex Difference in the Prevalence of Severe Anti-Social Behavior: A Literature Review

Abstract

It has been well-established that males exceed females in the most severe manifestations of anti-social behavior. The biological and environmental causes of this sex difference has received considerable attention. However, the evolutionary roots of this behavior has received far less attention. This review presented the evolutionary perspective on the reasons for the sex difference in severe anti-social behavior utilizing a life-history framework approach which is a branch of evolutionary theory that addresses the way organisms allocate time and resources to the various activities that comprise their life cycle.