Does smoking make men more aggressive? There appears to be no definitive answer to that question. Studies have found that aggressive males are more likely to be smokers, but it doesn't necessarily mean smoking and aggression are correlated. Other factors, such as economic status and peer groups, may play a more important role. But there are other findings concerning smoking and male aggression that are more clear-cut.
Nicotine Deprivation
Depriving male smokers of nicotine tends to make them more aggressive. In a 2001 study conducted at the University of Georgia, 35 smokers were assigned to a nicotine deprived group or a group that continued to smoke. Those who were deprived of nicotine demonstrated the highest amount of aggressive behavior.
Smoking During Pregnancy
There are some studies indicating that aggressiveness in males may be partially a result of their mother's smoking habit. In a 1999 study reported in the "Archives of General Psychiatry," maternal smoking during pregnancy was a predictor of aggression and criminal activity among their offspring. In fact, there was a relationship between the amount of nicotine consumption by pregnant women and the amount of violent and nonviolent crimes committed by their kids.
Followup Research
A more recent study reported in 2009 offered more evidence that maternal prenatal smoking results in aggressive behavior in the kids born to the smoking moms. A University of Montreal study that was published in "Development and Psychopathology" tracked 1745 kids between 18 months and 3 1/2 years old. Aggressiveness was measured by how quickly the kids were to bite, kick, hit or bully their peers. Kids of smokers were significantly more aggressive.
Theory
University of Montreal psychiatry professor Jean Seguin, co-author of the study linking prenatal smoking with male aggression in toddlers explains the link succinctly. She says smoking by the mother "affects the nervous system of the children in many ways, and this is one of them. It makes the kid harder to manage."
Marijuana
While some governmental agencies have claimed that smoking marijuana makes people aggressive and prone to crime, the Drug Policy website strongly disputes the contention. It states that the only crime that marijuana causes is the crime of possessing marijuana, and the only causal connection between crime and smoking pot is a negative one. "Almost all human and animal studies show that marijuana decreases rather than increases aggression."
