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Differences in executive functioning between violent and non-violent offenders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2017

J. Meijers ,
J. M. Harte ,
G. Meynen  and
P. Cuijpers
J. Meijers*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
J. M. Harte
Affiliation:
Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
G. Meynen
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
P. Cuijpers
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and VU Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: J. Meijers, MSc, Department Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Section Clinical Neuropsychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Room 1F-66, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (Email: j.meijers@vu.nl)
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Abstract

Background

A growing body of neuropsychological and neurobiological research shows a relationship between functioning of the prefrontal cortex and criminal and violent behaviour. The prefrontal cortex is crucial for executive functions such as inhibition, attention, working memory, set-shifting and planning. A deficit in these functions – a prefrontal deficit – may result in antisocial, impulsive or even aggressive behaviour. While several meta-analyses show large effect sizes for the relationship between a prefrontal deficit, executive dysfunction and criminality, there are few studies investigating differences in executive functions between violent and non-violent offenders. Considering the relevance of identifying risk factors for violent offending, the current study explores whether a distinction between violent and non-violent offenders can be made using an extensive neuropsychological test battery.

Method

Male remand prisoners (N = 130) in Penitentiary Institution Amsterdam Over-Amstel were administered an extensive neuropsychological test battery (Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery; CANTAB) measuring response inhibition, planning, attention, set-shifting, working memory and impulsivity/reward sensitivity.

Results

Violent offenders performed significantly worse on the stop-signal task (partial correlation r = 0.205, p = 0.024), a task measuring response inhibition. No further differences were found between violent and non-violent offenders. Explorative analyses revealed a significant relationship between recidivism and planning (partial correlation r = −0.209, p = 0.016).

Conclusion

Violent offenders show worse response inhibition compared to non-violent offenders, suggesting a more pronounced prefrontal deficit in violent offenders than in non-violent offenders.

Keywords

CANTABexecutive functioninhibitionneuropsychologyoffendersprison
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 47 , Issue 10 , July 2017 , pp. 1784 - 1793
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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