ABSTRACT
Introduction: Improvements in virtual reality (VR) have made it possible to create realistic, virtual settings for behavioral assessment and skills training that cannot otherwise be accessed in a safe way in forensic psychiatric settings. VR interventions are under development but little is known how forensic psychiatric patients with severe mental disorders experience VR-assisted assessments or treatments. Methods: The present study aimed to help fill this knowledge gap via qualitative interviews with seven patients with severe mental disorders at a high-security forensic psychiatric clinic who had completed the newly revised Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Training (VRAPT). All participants were interviewed 12 weeks after the VRAPT intervention, and interview data analyzed with manifest inductive content analysis. Results: Six manifest content categories were identified: 1. Therapeutic process, 2. VRAPT method, 3. VR technology, 4. Previous treatment experiences, 5. Challenges to treatment of aggression, and 6. Unexpected experiences. The participants had diverse experiences related to both the VRAPT intervention and forensic psychiatric care. Participants described a mixture of positive experiences in relation to VR-assisted role-plays, and less positive in relation to motivation for aggression-focused treatment and technological limitations. Discussion: The present findings suggest further studies are needed on how to best implement VR-assisted treatments for aggression in forensic settings, and potentially further modification of treatment content in interventions like VRAPT.
ABSTRACT
Psychopathy continues to be a challenge in forensic contexts, and evidence of its association with destructive behaviors, such as aggressive antisocial behaviors, is extensive. However, the potential role of intelligence as moderator of the well-established association between psychopathy and aggressive antisocial behaviors has largely been neglected, despite intelligence having been independently related to both concepts. Increased knowledge of whether intelligence is relevant to this association is needed because of its possible implications on the assessment and treatment of individuals with psychopathic traits and aggressive antisocial behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between psychopathic traits, aggressive antisocial behaviors, and intelligence in young violent offenders and to test whether intelligence moderates the relationship between psychopathic traits and aggressive antisocial behaviors. Participants were 269 male violent offenders aged 18-25 years, assessed on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), the Life History of Aggression (LHA), and the General Ability Index from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 3rd edition. Associations were tested with Spearman's rho, and moderation analysis was performed through ordinary least squares regressions. The PCL-R four-facet structure was used for the analyses. We found a positive association between psychopathic traits and aggressive antisocial behaviors, and a small negative association between the Affective PCL-R facet and intelligence. In the moderation analyses, a small yet statistically significant moderation effect of intelligence on the association between the Interpersonal facet and LHA total scores was demonstrated. However, the amount of variance in the LHA total score explained by the model was very small: 2.9%. We suggest that intelligence, however, important for rehabilitation strategies and everyday functioning, is not necessarily pertinent to understanding aggressive antisocial behaviors in young offenders with psychopathic traits.
ABSTRACT
Se aborda la denominada Tríada Oscura de la Personalidad -Tríada- (maquiavelismo, narcisismo subclínico y psicopatía subclínica) desde una mirada evolutiva. El objetivo de esta investigación es revisar la evidencia que han presentado los teóricos evolucionistas sobre la Tríada, desde un acercamiento a la mirada evolutiva. Para esto, se indaga en las principales características de cada uno de estos rasgos, los instrumentos que se han utilizado para evaluarlos y las principales áreas en donde se han estudiado. La mirada evolutiva plantea que los rasgos de la Tríada son dimensionales y varían de acuerdo con las diversas estrategias que utilizan los sujetos para adaptarse a las características socioambientales en las que se desarrollan. Estos rasgos se caracterizan por presentar violencia psicológica, inhibición moral, manipulación, baja amabilidad, insensibilidad, egoísmo y dificultad para mentalizar en contextos de interacción interpersonal y social.
What has been denominated as the Dark Triad of Personality - Triad (machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism and subclinical psychopathy is addressed here from an evolutionary look. The objective or this research is to review and revise the evidence submitted by evolutionary theorists with regard to the Triad, from an approach to the evolutionary scrutiny. For this purpose, the main characteristics in each one of these features are examined, as well as the instruments having been used to assess them, and the major areas where they have been studied. The evolutionary look states that the Triad features are dimensional and vary according to the diverse strategies employed by subjects to adapt themselves to the socioenvironmental characteristics surrounding them while they develop. These features are characterized by evidencing psychological violence, moral inhibition, manipulation, low kindness, selfishness, and difficulties to become aware or psych up in interpersonal and social interaction contexts.
A denominada Tríada Escura da Personalidade -Tríada- será abordada (maquiavelismo, narcisismo subclínico e psicopatia subclínica) desde uma olhada evolutiva. O objetivo desta investigação é rever a evidência que os teóricos evolucionistas apresentam sobre a Tríada, desde uma aproximação à olhada evolutiva. Para este efeito, indaga-se nas características principais de cada uma destas características, os instrumentos que foram usados para avaliá-los e as áreas principais onde são estudados. A olhada evolutiva explica que as características da Tríada são dimensionais e variam de acordo com as estratégias diversas que usam os sujeitos para se adaptar às características socioambientais nas que são desenvolvidas. Estas características determinam-se por apresentar violência psicológica, inibição moral, manipulação, baixa amabilidade, insensibilidade, egoísmo e dificuldade para mentalizar nos contextos da interação interpessoal e social.
Subject(s)
Psychology , Personality , Psychopathology , ViolenceABSTRACT
En esta investigación se compararon ofensores sexuales y delincuentes comunes de una cárcel chilena en relación con la psicopatía. La muestra constó de 57 agresores sexuales y 82 delincuentes comunes, todos condenados y recluidos en el Centro Cumplimiento Penitenciario de laciudad de Puerto Montt, Chile. El instrumento utilizado en esta investigación fue el Psychopathy Checklist-Revised(PCL-R), de Robert Hare. Los resultados demuestran que el nivel de psicopatía parece no influir de manera significativa en el hecho de estar condenado por algún tipo de delito sexual; por otra parte, se aprecian niveles moderados de psicopatía en personas condenadas por delitos no violentos. A medida que aumentan las características psicopáticas se aprecia una asociación positiva conla participación en delitos violentos y/o de sangre. Se concluye que los ofensores sexuales y delincuentes comunes reincidentes presentan niveles mayores de psicopatía.
In this research a comparison relating to psychopathy was made between sexual offenders and ordinary criminals in a prison in Chile. The sample consisted of 57 sexual aggressors and 82 common delinquents, all of them convicted and held at the correction facilities of the Centro de Cumplimiento Penitenciario in the city of Puerto Montt, Chile. The instrument used in this study was Robert Hares Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). The results show that the psychopathy level does not seem to affect in a significant way the fact that convicts have been sentenced for some kind of sexual crime. On the other hand, moderate psychopathy levels are observed in individuals charged withnon-violent offenses. As psychopathic features increase,a positive association with violent and/or bloody crimes is evidenced. The conclusion is that sexual offenders and recidivist common criminals exhibit higher psychopathy levels.
Nesta investigação compararam-se ofensores sexuais e delinquentes comuns de uma cadeia chilena com relação à psicopatia. A amostra consistiu em 57agressores sexuais e 82 delinquentes comuns, toda condenados e recluídos no Centro Cumprimento Penitenciário da cidade de Puerto Montt, o Chile. O instrumento usado nesta investigação foi PsychopathyChecklist-Revised (PCL-R), de Robert Hare. Os resultados demonstram que o nível da psicopatia parece não influir de maneira significativa no fato de ser condenado por algum tipo de crime sexual; por outro lado, estimam-se os níveis moderados de psicopatia nas pessoas condenadas por crimes não violentos. À medida que aumentam as características psicopáticas aprecia-se uma associação positiva com a participação em crimes violentos e/ou de sangue. Conclui-se que os ofensores sexuais e delinquentes comuns reincidentes se apresentam níveis maiores da psicopatia.
