Citation

Dunne AL, Lee S, Daffern M. Psychol. Crime Law 2019; 25(9): 875-895.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1068316X.2019.1597089

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study sought to determine whether the addition of DSM-5 personality facets and schema modes improved the prediction of aggression history over and above General Aggression Model (GAM) cognitive knowledge structures (aggressive script rehearsal and normative beliefs supportive of aggression) and anger. Participants were 208 incarcerated adult male prisoners who completed a battery of self-report psychological tests assessing the aforementioned constructs.

RESULTS indicated that aggression-related cognitive knowledge structures, anger, and various personality facets and schema modes were significantly associated with aggression. However, only anger, the personality facet Risk Taking, and the Enraged Child schema mode uniquely accounted for variance in multivariable modelling. This suggests that consideration of maladaptive personality facets, specifically risk taking, and schema modes characterised by intense anger and destructive coping behaviour, alongside established aggression-related cognitive and affective constructs, can (a) extend theoretical knowledge of the specific contents and processes involved in increasing aggression propensity, and (b) improve GAM's application in clinical settings, particularly in regards to assessment and treatment of violent offenders.

Language: en

Keywords

Aggression; anger; cognitive knowledge structures; DSM-5 maladaptive personality traits; general aggression model; schema modes