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Cognitive functioning and aggressive antisocial behaviors in young violent offenders
Märta Wallinius1, Johannes Nordholm2, Fredrik Wagnström3
1Lund University, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund, Sweden; Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Regional Forensic Psychiatric Clinic Växjö, Sweden.
Psychiatry Research
|January 8, 2019
Summary
Cognitive dysfunction in male offenders is linked to aggressive behavior, particularly slower reaction times and cognitive inflexibility. Even intellectual profiles correlate with more aggressive actions, suggesting targeted interventions are needed.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Criminology
Background:
- Offender populations often exhibit cognitive impairments.
- The direct contribution of cognitive dysfunction to aggressive antisocial behaviors remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between cognitive functioning and aggressive antisocial behaviors in male offenders.
- To describe the prevalence and covariates of uneven intellectual profiles.
- To investigate the association between cognitive function and the age of onset for aggressive antisocial behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 269 male offenders (aged 18-25) using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales-III and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery.
- Measured general intellectual functioning and executive functions.
- Correlated cognitive measures with aggressive behaviors and age of onset.
Main Results:
- Slower reaction times in response inhibition tests correlated with higher aggressive behavior occurrence.
- Offenders with even intellectual profiles exhibited more aggressive antisocial behaviors than those with uneven profiles.
- Cognitive inflexibility errors and slower reaction times linked to earlier onset of general criminality.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive functioning, particularly response inhibition and flexibility, shows small but significant associations with aggression and early criminality onset in male offenders.
- Even intellectual profiles may be associated with increased aggression.
- Further research is needed to understand how cognitive deficits impact treatment susceptibility in offenders.
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