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Aggression and attitudes to time and risk in weapon-using violent offenders

Brennan, Iain R.; Brennan, Iain; Moore, Simon C.; Shepherd, Jonathan P.

Authors

Iain R. Brennan

Simon C. Moore

Jonathan P. Shepherd



Abstract

The use of weapons in violence increases both the severity of harm to victims and the severity of legal consequences for offenders, but little is known of the characteristics of violent offenders who choose to use weapons. Levels of anger, attitude to risk, time discounting, and antisocial history among a sample of weapon-using violent offenders (n=15) were compared to violent offenders who had not used a weapon (n=10) and nonviolent offenders (n=15). Results showed that weapon-using violent offenders displayed greater trait aggression and were more risk seeking than other offender types. In addition, weapon-using violent offenders were first convicted at an earlier age and truanted from school more frequently compared to other offender types. The results indicate that weapon users are more aggressive and more risk taking, but no more present focused than other violent and nonviolent offenders. Further research into the cognitive and social factors that influence weapon use is required if this dangerous behavior is to be reduced. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Citation

Brennan, I., Moore, S. C., & Shepherd, J. P. (2010). Aggression and attitudes to time and risk in weapon-using violent offenders. Psychiatry research, 178(3), 536-539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2009.05.006

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 12, 2009
Online Publication Date May 26, 2010
Publication Date Aug 15, 2010
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Print ISSN 0165-1781
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 178
Issue 3
Pages 536-539
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2009.05.006
Keywords Biological Psychiatry; Psychiatry and Mental health
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/405177
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178109001899?via%3Dihub