Problems of Forensic Sciences 2015 Vol. 102 (CII) 96-114
PREDICTORS OF AGGRESSIVE CRIMINALITY AMONG SENTENCED WOMEN AND MEN WITH PSYCHOPATHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Marlena BANASIK1, Józef K. GIEROWSKI2, 3
1Department of Humanities, University of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland
2Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
3University of Social Sciences and Humanities, SWPS Faculty in Katowice, Poland
Streszczenie
Analysis of the recent international reports has proven that the traditional stereotype of male violent perpetrator is no longer valid. The purpose of this research was to investigate the problem of violent crime conditions in male and female offenders. Authors examined the role of psychopathic traits, empathy, psychological gender, aggressiveness and the risk of violence level in determining violent criminality. Two structural models were assessed. 100 incarcerated adult males and 100 incarcerated adult females were examined. To state the level of psychopathy the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 2003) was used. To analyse the likelihood of an aggressive behaviour manifestation the Historical/Clinical/Risk Management Scale (HCR-20; Webster, Douglas, Eaves, Hart, 1997) was applied (with special supplement − FAM – for females). Aggressive tendencies were measured using the self-reporting Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss, Perry, 1992). Psychological gender of the incarcerated individuals was evaluated with the Psychological Gender Inventory (Kuczyńska, 1992). To capture individual differences in empathy the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980) was used. Most relations between considered variables included in the theoretical model were confirmed in this study. Generally, there is probably no difference between men and women in conditions of aggressive criminality and instrumental violence.
Słowa kluczowe
Conditions of violence; Psychopathy; Gender differences; Risk factors for violence.