Research of the Relationship of Criminal Violence, Adult Attachment Styles and Personality Traits of Violent Male Offenders

Abstract

The problem of assessing criminal attitudes towards violence of violent offenders is very essential. It is important to measure criminal attitude using valid procedures as Self-Concept Implicit Association Test (IAT) and also consider its relationship with additional variables as attachment styles and personality traits, that could help to explain the forming and maintaining criminal attitude towards violence. The aim of this study is to research the relationship of criminal violence, adult attachment styles and personality traits of violent male offenders. Six research questions were formed. Participants were violent male prisoners (N = 77), aged 20-62 years (Mdn = 34 or M = 35.5, SD = 10.6). Methods used: Specially designed Self-Concept IAT, measuring implicit criminal attitudes towards violence; Criminal Attitudes to Violence Scale (CAVs); the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated (EPQR-A) and Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ). The main results showed that anxious-ambivalent attachment style is more common for violent prisoners. It was found that the greatest impact on implicitly measured attitudes towards criminal violence is made by insecurity then, explicit attitudes towards violence and then by neuroticism. The factor analyses indicated three factors. The results can be used in the process of re-socialization of violent prisoners.

Emotional States Related to Sexual Offending Versus Violent Offending Using a Schema Therapy Perspective

“…Research suggests a link between insecure attachment and (sexual) violent behavior (Miller & Klockner, 2019; Yang & Perkins, 2021). For example, Simane-Vigante et al (2018) reported that anxious-ambivalent attachment styles are common in a sample of 77 males with violent convictions. Also, Garofalo & Bogaerts (2019) showed that avoidant and anxious attachment dimensions were dominant in a sample of 84 perpetrators of child sexual abuse.…”

Relationship Between Personality Traits and Violence Involvement - a Study of High School Students in Northern Iraq

“…They are thus more liable to become angry and react violently. In contrast, introverts can control their actions, especially in violent circumstances ( 50 ).…”

Rasgos de la personalidad asociados a la conducta criminal: perspectiva de los modelos de Eysenck y Gray

“…& Plotka (2018). Estas personas, a muy temprana edad, asimilan el contener, desear o querer llevar a cabo un acto delictivo y, por tal razón, una vez que un delincuente tenga de forma organizada su personalidad, emitirá de manera repetitiva e impulsivamente estas conductas delictivas(Rawlings et al, 2021).Para Eysenck, las propuestas desde las dimensiones de la personalidad se caracterizan por ser descritas desde los factores disposicionales, que se asocian a los comportamientos ajustados por la sociedad, como lo describeLebuda et al, (2021).…”