Self-regulation in violent and non-violent offenders: a preliminary report

Abstract

Background: The functional role of self-regulation in violent behaviour is not yet fully understood.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that violent offenders have more deficits in self-regulation and self-control than non-violent offenders.

Methods: Self-regulation and personality disorders were evaluated in a sample of 70 violent and non-violent incarcerated offenders using the Volitional Components Questionnaire (VCQ) and the SCID-II for DSM-IV.

Results: The self-report data indicate that violent offenders were no different from non-violent offenders on either facilitatory or inhibitory modes of self-regulation and self-control. Compared with a sample of normal, healthy men, differences were found in all tested self-regulation variables but not in self-control. Except for antisocial personality, the groups were similar in personality features.

Conclusions: The proposed hypothesis was not sustained on this measure of self-regulation. With regard to self-regulation and self-control, violent and non-violent offenders were similar and treatment interventions to improve capacity in these respects are probably useful for both groups.