NCJ Number
219087
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 254-263
Date Published
June 2007
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed the different profiles of 162 male batterers in 18 Spanish prisons who were diagnosed with and without psychopathy.
Abstract
The psychopathic batterers (n=20) were younger, more impulsive and suspicious, less empathetic, and with lower self-esteem than nonpsychopathic batterers (n=142). The psychopathic batterers exhibited more antisocial behavior, engaged in more generalized violence, and were more likely to abuse illicit substances than the nonpsychopathic batterers. Future research should focus on collecting the same types of data with larger samples and designing tailored programs for perpetrators in accordance with a diagnosis of psychopathy. Study participants are part of ongoing research on the effectiveness of a pilot program of psychological intervention with prison inmates convicted of violence against women. The program is being implemented in 18 Spanish prisons (2005 and 2006). Participants were required to be adult men between 18 and 65 years old and serving a sentence for a serious offense of violence against a female partner. Psychopathy was measured with the Spanish version of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. Cognitive and empathic variables were measured with the Inventory of Distorted Thoughts About Women. Psychopathological and personality variables were measured with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Impulsivity Scale, and the Self-Esteem Scale. 3 tables and 42 references