Psychological factors predicting violent prison inmates’ anger and aggression

ABSTRACT Based on a functional analysis of aggressive behavior, the present study investigates the psychological determinants of state anger and aggression in violent prison inmates. Comparing psychiatric forensic inpatients with violent prison inmates revealed considerable overlap in these determinants between both samples. Next, the personality traits of neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, hostility, and anger were studied in explaining the violent prison inmates’ state anger and aggression. Data were obtained from 102 male inmates prisoned for four years or more because of a serious violent crime. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the patients’ characteristics of anger and aggression. It was found that neuroticism, trait anger, and hostility contributed to state anger. Furthermore, the main factor contributing to aggression was state anger. Implications of the results for reducing anger and aggression in violent prison inmates are discussed.