Citation

Ross T, Fontao MI. Crim. Behav. Ment. Health 2007; 17(3): 171-178.

Affiliation

Forensic Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany. thomas.ross@uni-ulm.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/cbm.651

PMID

17440946

Abstract

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.

Language: en