EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF WOMEN PRISONERS, I. MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC VARIABLES RELATED TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR

• NCJ Number: 12059
• Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 130 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1973) Pages: 985-990
• Author(s): C E CLIMENT; A ROLLINS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychiatric Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINDINGS OF STUDY AT WOMEN'S PRISON INDICATE THAT SEVERAL VARIABLES ARE HIGHLY RELATED TO VIOLENCE, BUT NO SINGLE VARIABLE IS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE.

Abstract

NINETY-FIVE WOMEN PRISON VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN AN INVESTIGATION OF MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC CORRELATES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. VIOLENCE WAS MEASURED IN FIVE INDEPENDENT WAYS. CONCURRENCE OF ALL FIVE MEASURES WAS THE CRITERION FOR ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND A GIVEN VARIABLE. THE VARIABLES MOST HIGHLY ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE WERE MATERNAL LOSS BEFORE AGE TEN, SEVERE PARENTAL PUNISHMENT, NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN RELATIVES, THE DISCONTROL SYNDROME (A SERIES OF DISORDERED ACTS THAT INTERRUPT AN INDIVIDUAL'S TYPICAL LIFE-STYLE AND THAT APPEAR BOTH OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND INAPPROPRIATE TO THE SITUATION) AND EASY ACCESS TO WEAPONS. THESE RESULTS UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE RATHER THAN FOR INVESTIGATIONS WITHIN ISOLATED DISCIPLINES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)