Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
08:59
The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
Published on: October 13, 2017
The relationship between attachment, personality and antisocial tendencies in a prison sample: a pilot study
Anita Lill Hansen1, Leif Waage, Jarle Eid
1Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgt. 12, Bergen, Norway. anita.hansen@psysp.uib.no
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|January 20, 2011
Summary
Adult attachment and personality traits influence antisocial behavior in prison inmates. Avoidant attachment was more common, while anxious attachment predicted relationship aggression, suggesting distinct correlates for different antisocial tendencies.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Antisocial tendencies encompass various behaviors, including violence and interpersonal relationship issues.
- Understanding the psychological underpinnings of these tendencies is crucial for offender rehabilitation and violence prevention.
- Adult attachment theory and personality traits are recognized as potential contributing factors to antisocial behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between adult attachment styles and personality traits with antisocial tendencies in a sample of Norwegian prison inmates.
- To differentiate the psychological correlates of violent behavior versus aggression in intimate relationships.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 92 Norwegian prison inmates completed self-report questionnaires.
- Attachment styles were assessed using the Relationship Styles Questionnaire (RSQ).
- Personality traits were measured using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).
Main Results:
- Inmates exhibited higher levels of avoidant attachment compared to anxious attachment.
- Age and agreeableness (negatively) were significant predictors of violent convictions.
- Anxious attachment significantly predicted aggression within intimate relationships, explaining a substantial portion of the variance.
Conclusions:
- Different facets of antisocial behavior may be associated with distinct attachment and personality profiles.
- Anxious attachment appears particularly relevant to interpersonal aggression in romantic relationships among this population.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering both attachment and personality in understanding and addressing diverse antisocial tendencies.
Related Concept Videos
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
01:24Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by persistent patterns of disregard for the rights and well-being of others. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder exhibit behaviors that include deceitfulness, impulsivity, irresponsibility, aggression, and a profound lack of empathy. These traits often manifest early in life and persist into adulthood, leading to significant personal, social, and legal consequences.
Behavioral Characteristics and...
Behavioral Characteristics and...
03:20The Stanford Prison Experiment
The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.
01:20Attachment
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
01:24Attachment Styles
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
01:28Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.