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Risk factors in violent and nonviolent offenders
P M Valliant1, C Gristey, D Pottier
1Psychology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Psychological Reports
|December 28, 1999
Summary
Violent offenders exhibit higher psychopathy, elevated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scores for psychopathic deviate, paranoia, and schizophrenia, and lower Porteus Maze test scores compared to nonviolent offenders and nonoffenders.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Understanding risk factors for violence is crucial in offender populations.
- Previous research indicates a correlation between psychopathy and violent behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify psychological and cognitive factors differentiating violent offenders from nonviolent offenders and nonoffenders.
- To evaluate the utility of specific psychometric instruments in assessing violence risk.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 36 male offenders (18 violent, 17 nonviolent) and 17 nonoffenders.
- Assessment using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), Violence Risk Scale-Experimental Version 1 (VRS-EV1), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168 (MMPI-168), and Porteus Maze tests.
Main Results:
- Violent offenders scored higher on MMPI scales (Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, Schizophrenia) and VRS-EV1.
- Violent offenders demonstrated higher psychopathic orientation on the PCL-R.
- Violent offenders exhibited lower age quotient scores on the Porteus Maze test.
Conclusions:
- Psychopathy, specific MMPI profiles, and cognitive deficits (Porteus Maze) are associated with violent offending.
- These findings support the use of comprehensive assessments for violence risk evaluation in offenders.