The relationship between attachment, personality and antisocial tendencies in a prison sample: a pilot study.
This study examined the role of adult attachment and personality in relation to antisocial tendencies (i.e. convictions for violence and interpersonal problems in romantic relationships) in Norwegian prison inmates (N=92). Attachment styles and personality were measured using self-report questionnaires (RSQ; Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994; and NEO-FFI, Costa & McCrae, 1992a). The prison inmates scored higher on avoidant than on anxious attachment style. While age and agreeableness (negatively associated) emerged as significant predictors of violence, anxious attachment explained most of the variances in aggression in intimate relationships. The study suggests that different types of antisocial tendencies could have different attachment and general personality correlates.
Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgt. 12, Bergen, Norway. anita.hansen@psysp.uib.no
Anita Lill
AL
Hansen
Leif
L
Waage
Jarle
J
Eid
Bjørn Helge
BH
Johnsen
Stephen
S
Hart
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D009769:Object Attachment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult