NCJ Number
58251
Journal
Neuropsychobiology Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 221-232
Date Published
1976
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EVALUATED BACKGROUND VARIABLES AND PERSONALITY TRAITS IN MENTALLY DISTURBED PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENT CRIMES. SUCH TRAITS COULD SERVE AS PROGNOSTIC LANDMARKS WHEN RELATED TO ANAMNESTIC DATA.
Abstract
PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISORDER WERE EXAMINED BY STANDARDIZED PSYCHOLOGIC TESTS AND CLINICAL INTERVIEWS. THESE 16 MEN COMMITTED CRIMES SUCH AS HOMICIDE, MANSLAUGHTER, ASSAULT, RAPE, AND ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. OF THESE CRIMES, 10 ENDED IN DEATH FOR THE VICTIM, WHILE IN SIX INSTANCES THE VICTIM SURVIVED. EXAMINATIONS WERE DONE BY COURT ASSIGNMENT. THE EXAMINEES WERE OBSERVED FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS AT THE CLINIC OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY AT LUND. ANAMNESTIC DATA ON CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE WERE AVAILABLE FROM REPORTS PREPARED FOR THE COURTS. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CASE HISTORIES WERE COMPLETED WITH THE HELP OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. OF THE 16 MEN, 4 HAD NO FORMAL EDUCATION WHILE 12 HAD VARYING AMOUNTS OF SCHOOLING. REGARDLESS OF THEIR OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND, MOST MEN AT THE TIME OF THE ACTUAL CRIME HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR WORK POSITION BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, MENTAL DISORDER, OR FOREGOING IMPRISONMENT. ALL MEN BUT TWO HAD BEGUN A CRIMINAL CAREER BEFORE THE ACTUAL CRIME OF VIOLENCE. THE ACT OF AGGRESSION WAS, IN ALL PRESENT CASES, COMMITTED UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SOME JUDICIAL DOUBT PREVAILED AS TO THE OFFENDER'S MENTAL SANITY. IN THESE CASES, THERE WERE 20 VICTIMS, 11 MALES AND 9 FEMALES. RELATIVES WERE ATTACKED IN THREE CASES, WHILE FIVE OTHER VICTIMS WERE CLOSE OR LONG-LASTING ACQUAINTANCES. IN EACH CASE, THE PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOLOGIC EXAMINATIONS WERE INTEGRATED IN A DIAGNOSIS. SOCIAL BACKGROUND FACTORS WERE FOUND TO BE MOSTLY UNFAVORABLE, WITH AN ADEQUATELY FUNCTIONING FATHER PRESENT IN ONLY ONE-FOURTH OF THE CASES. THE SERIES OF MEN RESIDENT IN SOUTHERN SWEDEN WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISORDER HAVING COMMITTED CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND SUBJECTED TO FORENSIC EXAMINATION WAS DIAGNOSTICALLY HETEROGENEOUS. SITUATIONS RELEASING VIOLENCE ENTAILED AWARENESS OF A THREAT TO THE CULPRIT'S PHYSICAL EXISTENCE OR HIS SELF IMAGE. WEAK OR DEFECTIVE EGO USUALLY HEIGHTENED THE FEELING OF THREAT AND AN INABILITY TO CHOOSE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. OFTEN, ALCOHOL ABUSE AND NARCOTICS TRIGGERED THE ACT OF VIOLENCE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)