Hunger and violence

Year 2015, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 115 - 122, 01.10.2015

Aliye Özenoğlu Gökçe Ünal

Abstract

Nutrient deficiencies and disturbances in metabolism of neurotransmitters and hormones, induced by nutrient deficiencies, affect the behavior of individuals. In this review, the effect of deficiencies that occur in the body as a result of hunger on the formation of aggression and violent behavior are intended to be explained by biological processes. Articles published between the years 1993-2014 using keywords hunger, lack of nutrients, aggression, violence were scanned on Pubmed database, hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances occurring in the body during fasting and nutrient deficiency, and their effect on aggression and violent behavior were compiled. Tryptophan is the most associated amino acid with violence and aggression and a decrease in the amount of serotonin in the body can lead to the formation of these behaviors , when fed a diet low in tryptophan. Among fatty acids, the lack of omega-3 is the most associated deficiency with violence mechanism. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies may lead to the formation of undesirable behavior and misalignment in the nervous system. Vitamin D, Vitamin B-complex, iron, zinc, lithium and magnesium are the most associated compounds with undesirable behaviors. In women, low progesterone and high testosterone levels can trigger violent behavior. Low serotonin and high dopamine levels play a role in the formation of aggressive behavior. Hunger and associated nutrient deficiencies can affect family members and may be the cause of negative behavior towards children. Food deprivation, hunger and their effects on violent mechanisms are public concerns and issues that need to be studied more.

Keywords

Hunger, nutrient deficiency, aggression, violence

Açlık ve şiddet

Abstract

Besin öğesi yetersizlikleri ve buna bağlı olarak gelişen nörotransmitter ve hormon metabolizmasındaki bozukluklar bireylerin davranışlarını etkilemektedir. Bu derlemede, açlık sonucu vücutta oluşan besin eksikliklerinin saldırganlık ve şiddet içeren davranışların oluşumuna etkisinin biyolojik süreçler ile açıklanması amaçlanmıştır. Pubmed veritabanında açlık, besin öğesi yetersizliği, saldırganlık, şiddet anahtar sözcükleri kullanılarak 1993-2014 yılları arasında yayınlanmış makaleler taranmış, besin öğeleri yetersizliği ve açlık durumunda vücutta meydana gelen hormon ve nörotransmitter dengesizlikleri ve bunların saldırganlık ve şiddet içeren davranışlara etkisi ile ilgili yapılan çalışmalar derlenmiştir. Şiddet ve saldırganlık ile en fazla ilişkilendirilen aminoasit olan triptofandan düşük diyetle beslenilmesi vücutta serotonin miktarında azalmaya ve bu davranışların oluşumuna neden olabilmektedir. Eksikliği şiddet mekanizması ile en fazla ilişkilendirilen yağ asidi omega-3’ tür. Vitamin ve mineral eksiklikleri sinir sisteminde düzensizliklere ve istenmeyen davranışların oluşumuna neden olabilmektedir. Bu davranışlarla vitaminlerden en fazla D ve B kompleks vitaminleri; minerallerden ise demir, çinko, lityum ve magnezyum ilişkilendirilmiştir. Kadınlarda düşük progesteron ve yüksek testesteron düzeyleri şiddet içeren davranışları tetikleyebilmektedir. Düşük serotonin ve yüksek dopamin düzeyleri saldırgan davranışların oluşumunda rol oynamaktadır. Açlık ve buna bağlı besin öğesi yetersizlikleri aile bireylerini etkileyerek çocuklara yönelik olumsuz davranışların nedeni olabilmektedir. Besin yoksunluğu ve açlığın şiddet mekanizmalarına olan etkileri toplumu ilgilendiren ve daha fazla araştırılması gereken bir konudur.

Keywords

Açlık, besin öğesi yetersizliği, saldırganlık, şiddet

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