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Self‐regulation in violent and non‐violent offenders: a preliminary report
Author(s) -
Ross Thomas,
Fontao María Isabel
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
criminal behaviour and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1471-2857
pISSN - 0957-9664
DOI - 10.1002/cbm.651
Subject(s) - psychology , self control , personality , clinical psychology , psychological intervention , personality disorders , self report study , injury prevention , poison control , developmental psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , medical emergency , medicine
Background The functional role of self‐regulation in violent behaviour is not yet fully understood. Aim To test the hypothesis that violent offenders have more deficits in self‐regulation and self‐control than non‐violent offenders. Methods Self‐regulation and personality disorders were evaluated in a sample of 70 violent and non‐violent incarcerated offenders using the Volitional Components Questionnaire (VCQ) and the SCID‐II for DSM‐IV. Results The self‐report data indicate that violent offenders were no different from non‐violent offenders on either facilitatory or inhibitory modes of self‐regulation and self‐control. Compared with a sample of normal, healthy men, differences were found in all tested self‐regulation variables but not in self‐control. Except for antisocial personality, the groups were similar in personality features. Conclusions The proposed hypothesis was not sustained on this measure of self‐regulation. With regard to self‐regulation and self‐control, violent and non‐violent offenders were similar and treatment interventions to improve capacity in these respects are probably useful for both groups. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.