NCJ Number
238170
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2012 Pages: 27-35
Date Published
February 2012
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the role that socioemotional processing deficits play as mediators between psychosis and the potential to engage in aggressive behavior.
Abstract
The current literature suggests a relationship between psychosis and the likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior, though the factors involved are unclear. In this paper, the authors use a social information processing framework to consider mediators of aggressive behavior in psychosis, especially facial affect recognition (FAR) deficits. The theoretical underpinnings of aggressive behavior are explored using the General Aggression Model (GAM) and FAR deficits are posited as a possible contributor to increased aggression in psychosis. Current research investigating the relationship between FAR, psychosis, and aggression is critically examined, and the role of potential confounding variables including positive symptoms, psychopathic personality traits, childhood trauma, and substance use briefly explored. In conclusion, the authors argue that socioemotional processing deficits, such as impaired FAR, are a fruitful area for research aimed at understanding, and hence reducing the risk of violence in psychosis. (Published Abstract)