Research of the Relationship of Criminal Violence, Adult Attachment Styles and Personality Traits of Violent Male Offenders

Abstract

The problem of assessing criminal attitudes towards violence of violent offenders is very essential. It is important to measure criminal attitude using valid procedures as Self-Concept Implicit Association Test (IAT) and also consider its relationship with additional variables as attachment styles and personality traits, that could help to explain the forming and maintaining criminal attitude towards violence. The aim of this study is to research the relationship of criminal violence, adult attachment styles and personality traits of violent male offenders. Six research questions were formed. Participants were violent male prisoners (N = 77), aged 20-62 years (Mdn = 34 or M = 35.5, SD = 10.6). Methods used: Specially designed Self-Concept IAT, measuring implicit criminal attitudes towards violence; Criminal Attitudes to Violence Scale (CAVs); the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated (EPQR-A) and Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ). The main results showed that anxious-ambivalent attachment style is more common for violent prisoners. It was found that the greatest impact on implicitly measured attitudes towards criminal violence is made by insecurity then, explicit attitudes towards violence and then by neuroticism. The factor analyses indicated three factors. The results can be used in the process of re-socialization of violent prisoners.