Psychopathology and anger in interpersonal violence offenders

Abstract

The current literature on psychopathology and anger suggests that both contribute to interpersonal violence. The present study examined psychopathology and anger expression with two objectives: to confirm previous distinctions of personality type among abusive individuals and to examine the relation between these types and anger. Cluster analysis was conducted with data gathered from 40 subjects. Results suggested confirmation of four clusters of interpersonal violence offenders. Furthermore, the most pathological cluster type reported the highest level of total anger experience, while the histrionic cluster type reported the lowest anger expression. These results provide tentative support for a positive relationship between psychopathology and anger, as well as for the distinction between overcontrolled and under-controlled anger as subtypes of interpersonal violence offenders.