From The Psychology Times, Vol. 3, No. 2

The University of New Orleans psychology department won a $275,000 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study antisocial behavior and stress hormones in adolescent girls. The researchers will try and uncover the reasons why girls are at an increasing risk for antisocial behavior, according to the UNO website.

Fellow psychology professors Drs. Monica Marssee, Paul Frick and Carl Weems will lead the two-year study to examine sex and stress hormones, and aspects of early adversity in girls.

Dr. Birdie Shirtcliff spoke recently on Fox 8 News, saying “What we’re seeing is a really shocking decrease in antisocial behavior in boys. It’s just been plummeting. But in girls, that hasn’t happened… And some of the most violent crimes have been on the increase.”

The news report noted that delinquency in boys is down 63 percent since 1995 but the murder/manslaughter rate in adolescent girls is up 51 percent since that year.

The UNO researchers will investigate 
neurobiological underpinnings, particularly stress hormones, and early adversity, of antisocial behavior in a group of incarcerated adolescent girls, noted the UNO website.