[The influence of the type and level of aggression on homicidal behaviour]

A comparative analysis carried out on the type and level of aggressiveness in 105 perpetrators of homicide shows that in those assessed there is a lack of homogeneity in the personality structure, the developmental factors which determine the more stable mechanism of behavior, the course and the level of socialization, and the depth of psychopathological disturbance. Aggression understood as a permanent readiness to react to external stimuli and situations by using open and direct aggression characterizes the perpetrator with a disturbed socialization process. A deep level of hostility of the subjects seems to be associated with a weak influence of the personality structure and mechanisms in their basic regulatory and adaptive functions and an anxious attitude in respect of the social surroundings. Non-aggressive perpetrators of homicide mostly act under the influence of significant stronger psychopathological factors (delusions and hallucinations) or very strong pressure of situational factors not related to their personality. Homicidal behavior is thus an effect of very different internal variables and situational factors.