Defence mechanisms in crime narratives of psychopathic violent offenders

Abstract

The literature on crime narratives has demonstrated the relevance of studying offenders’ personal perspectives on crime as a means to gain insight in criminal behaviour. In this exploratory study, we examine the presence of defence mechanisms in crime narratives produced by violent offenders with psychopathic traits. The Defence Mechanism Rating Scale (DMRS) is used to assess defence mechanisms in crime narratives produced by 36 male inmates. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is used to assess psychopathic traits. Statistical analyses demonstrate the increased presence of obsessional defences (intellectualisation). The affective and lifestyle traits of psychopathy are positively associated with rationalisation. Our results indicate that psychopathic offenders tend to describe their violent crime in general and abstract terms and represent themselves as rational actors whose behaviour is normal and well-founded given the abnormal or irrational environment. We conclude that the narrative strategies deployed by offenders with psychopathic traits are characterised by defence mechanisms to deal with threats to the self.