Impulsive versus premeditated aggression in the prediction of violent criminal recidivism

Abstract

Past aggression is a potent predictor of future aggression and informs the prediction of violent criminal recidivism. However, aggression is a heterogeneous construct and different types of aggression may confer different levels of risk for future violence. In this prospective study of 91 adults in a pretrial diversion program, we examined a) premeditated versus impulsive aggression in the prediction of violent recidivism during a one-year follow-up period, and b) whether either type of aggression would have incremental validity in the prediction of violent recidivism after taking into account frequency of past general aggression. Findings indicate that premeditated, but not impulsive, aggression predicts violent recidivism. Moreover, premeditated aggression remained a predictor of recidivism even with general aggression frequency in the model. Results provide preliminary evidence that the assessment of premeditated aggression provides relevant information for the management of violent offenders.

Relations Among Victimization, Witnessing, and Perpetration of Aggression: Impact of Gender Among Youth Offenders

“…With high-recidivism rates for violent offenders (Swogger, Walsh, Houston, Cashman-Brown, & Conner, 2010), further research has shown that premeditated, but not impulsive aggression, is a significant predictor of future criminal violence (Swogger, Walsh, Christie, Priddy, & Conner, 2015; Tisak & Jankowski, 1996). This may be because youth who are aggressive toward their peers often begin to enjoy having power over their victims (Besag, 1989).…”

Violence Risk Assessment and Management in Outpatient Clinical Practice

“…For example, in a sample of 91 offenders in pretrial diversion, past violence overall was found to predict violence within 12 months. However, when premeditated violence was distinguished from impulsive violence, the latter was found to be unrelated to future violence, whereas the former was strongly associated with future violence (Swogger, Walsh, Christie, Priddy, & Conner, ).…”

Oxytocin and callous-unemotional traits: towards a social-cognitive approach to forensic analysis

“…The importance of developmental risk factors in addition to static risk factors of adult criminal history in predicting recidivism is increasingly evident (1). As histories of premeditated rather than impulsive aggression are of far greater importance in the prediction of future aggression (2), there is great reason to study the disorders of childhood and adolescence that predispose to premeditated acts of aggression.…”