Domestic Violence and the NFL: Could Concussions be the Cause?

[Revanchist]

Caveat: I'm not endorsing the behavior of any the individuals involved in the recent cases in the news, I'm just wondering if there could be a deeper reason than, he's an asshole.

Secondly, I apologize for throwing this ideas out here without doing much research, I'm working on a paper on the care and treatment of diabetes in the managed care environment so I don't have too much time to devote to this subject.

While the studies have been limited, there are theories tying traumatic head injuries from contact sports to anger and aggression

http://www.loyolamedicine.org/newswire/news/do-sports-concussions-really-cause-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy

http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/8423

We also know that concussions are common in the NFL (not to mention during the years of training it takes to reach the NFL). The NYT reported today that 1 in 3 retired players have issues related to brain trauma and the the conditions emerge at an earlier age.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/sports/football/actuarial-reports-in-nfl-concussion-deal-are-released.html?_r=0

With that being said, do you think that brain damage could play a role in the number of domestic abuse cases among professional athletes?

Would of made a poll but I don't have a star, sorry.

[Ilsa]

1. I don't know the health history of those players that

Have been in the news lately. Maybe Roethlisburger since he's a QB?

[L0oniX]

2. Poor emotional development in teen years.

[treestar]

3. sort of OT but how is a sport worth this?

They ought to change the rules somehow.

It's just a game. Amazing it could be allowed to cause such injury.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

4. Maybe,and maybe it has something to do with increased testosterone among pro athletes

sometimes due to steroids.

[FuzzyRabbit]

5. 'Roid Rage

Jock privilege plus steroids.

[mathematic]

6. I seriously doubt concussions cause the lower rate of domestic violence by nfl players

I also doubt the other theories suggested in this thread. I don't think poor emotional development, high testosterone, or steroid use causes lower rates of domestic violence (nor do I think, apart from the steroid use, those apply to NFL players).

I think the lower rates of domestic violence (and all crimes) by NFL players are due to the high income of NFL players as well as the values that all sports instill in their participants.

[longship]

7. Or maybe just an inherently stupid and violent game.

Whose sole purpose seems to be merely to sell more horrible rice beer.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Frontal lobe injuries can cause aggression.

In the case of the Minnesota guy and his child, though, it sounds like behavior he learned at home when he was a child. You hear it all the time - "I got beat with a belt when I was a child, and I turned out okay."

[JonLP24]

9. Yes

TBI and other brain injuries can cause mood & behavioral changes including aggression.

[Revanchist]

10. Finished one assignment so have a few minutes to reply to all

I'm not saying that concussions and brain injuries are the sole reason, but they could be another piece of the overall puzzle, along with steroid use, the type of personality that is attracted to competitive sports, and perhaps the massaging of their egos that they revive at that level.

Perhaps these traumatic brain injuries are the trigger when combined with all the other factors.