Psychological Risk Markers in Violent Female Behavior

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify psychological risk markers for violent female offenders. Victimization experiences, stressful life events, personality disorders and cognitive ability of 61 offenders and 30 nonoffenders were examined by a structured interview and an intelligence test. First-time offenders and repeat violent offenders were also compared on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. Offenders had had more adverse experiences in childhood and adulthood than non-offenders, and reported partner related difficulties prior to the index offense. Cluster B personality disorders and more limited cognitive functioning characterized offenders who indulge in substance abuse and had received psychiatric treatment more often than nonoffenders. A comparison of repeat violent offenders and first-time offenders produced no differences in experiences of abuse, whereas domestic violence and parental divorce were more common in families of recidivists than in those of first-time offenders. Antisocial personality disorder, psychopathic traits, substance abuse and non-violent criminality also proved to be more frequent among the recidivists. A comparison of those whose victim was a partner and those whose victim was not a live-in companion did not reveal any significant difference in physical abuse in the partner relationship. The findings revealed that a great majority of women who pose a risk for violent behavior have personality disorder and substance abuse problems. Treatment implications are discussed.

Gender and psychopathy: an overview of important issues and introduction to the special issue

“…At the same time, women's violence and men's violence share many similar correlates (Giordano, Millhollin, Cernkovich, Pugh, & Rudolph, 1999;Loucks & Zamble, 2000;Magdol, Moffitt, Caspi, & Silva, 1998;Richards, Casey, & Lucente, 2003;Vitale et al, 2002). For instance, Weizmann-Henelius, Viemerö , and Eronen (2004) reported that psychopathy and several other variables commonly associated with violence risk in men were good predictors of recidivism in women. As such, it would be disingenuous to overlook the importance of this construct to female offending.…”

“…One of the most important is that the number of adolescent girls (see Odgers et al, this issue) and adult women (Weizmann-Henelius, Viemerö , & Eronen, 2004) coming into contact with the criminal justice system is steadily rising. Further, in other institutional settings where personality disorder evaluations and violence risk assessments are common, women represent approximately 40% (civil hospitals) and 10% (forensic psychiatric hospitals) of the population.…”

Childhood trauma, antisocial personality typologies and recent violent acts among inpatient males with severe mental illness: Exploring an explanatory pathway

“…Available literature of violent female offenders implicates similar risk factors to males with SMI such as early adverse childhood experiences, substance misuse and a diagnosis of a personality disorder (Weizmann-Henelius et al, 2004). However, de Vogel et al (2012 argue that there are substantial gender differences in the way these risk factors develop.…”

Violent Female Offending: An Exploration of Repeat and One-Time Offending

“…Verona & Downloaded by [University of Tennessee, Knoxville] at 12:27 04 June 2016 Carbonell (2000), for example, report that more than half of their female violent participants, 54.3%, were OV offenders. While other studies have also reported large numbers of OV offenders, Bell (2004) and Weizmann-Henelius et al (2004) reported slightly more RV offenders, 51.7% and 59.1% respectively. As such the proportion of OV and RV offenders across these studies seem relatively stable.…”

“…A small number of studies have sought to identify factors or 'risk markers' that may correlate or be predictive of violent female offending through comparing groups of offenders as defined by their offending histories (Bell, 2004;Verona & Carbonell, 2000;Weizmann-Henelius et al, 2004). These studies have compared female offenders with only one conviction for violent offending (i.e., 'first-time' or 'one-time' violent offenders) with those who have repeatedly offended (usually identified by more than one violent conviction).…”