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Does Violence Have Cognitive Correlates?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

G. Robertson ,
P. J. Taylor  and
J. C. Gunn
G. Robertson*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
P. J. Taylor
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
J. C. Gunn
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
*
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
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Extract

The relationship between cognitive function and violence in 76 remanded prisoners, without formal psychiatric illness, was investigated. The violent group tended to be of slightly lower general ability than the non-violent group, but not abnormally so in relation to the general population; no relationship was found between specific patterns of cognitive functioning and violence. The violent group reported significantly higher levels of neurotic symptoms than the non-violent group, and were more socially deviant. To a small extent general intelligence (reasoning ability), in interaction with many other factors, may be related to a propensity for violent behaviour, but no particular aspect of cortical functioning seems to be related to violence.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 151 , Issue 1 , July 1987 , pp. 63 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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