Cognitive and personality factors associated with assaultive and domestic offenders

Psychol Rep. 2004 Jun;94(3 Pt 2):1180-4. doi: 10.2466/pr0.94.3c.1180-1184.

Abstract

An evaluation of domestic assaultive (n=46), general assaultive (n= 23) and nonassaultive (19 property offenders) groups was performed to compare cognitive (Test of Nonverbal Intelligence), personality (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), aggression (Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory), and criminal sentiments (Carlson Psychological Survey). Analysis showed minimal significant differences amongst the groups. A significant difference was found for the Verbal Hostility subscale of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. The domestic assaultive offenders were similar to the general assaultive and nonviolent offenders, with a greater disparity for the control group. Furthermore, a significant difference was noted for the Hypochondriasis scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The general assaultive and control (n = 15) groups had similar scores, with the greatest difference found for nonviolent offenders who were least anxious. Discriminant analysis showed group membership could be identified for 89.1% of the domestic assaultive group.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Criminal Psychology*
  • Domestic Violence / psychology*
  • Hostility
  • Humans
  • Intelligence Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • MMPI / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prisoners / psychology*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Concept
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology