Self-regulation in violent and non-violent offenders: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
The functional role of self-regulation in violent behaviour is not yet fully understood.


OBJECTIVE
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.
Ross
Thomas
T
Forensic Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany. thomas.ross@uni-ulm.de
Fontao
María Isabel
MI
D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*