An Examination of Mental Health, Hostility, and Typology in Homicide Offenders. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brad, Curtis A.; Coupland, Richard B. A.; Olver, Mark E.
• Is Part Of: Homicide studies. Volume 18:Number 4(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 323
• Page End: 341
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: homicide -- hostility -- mental health -- mental illness -- murder -- typology; Homicide -- Periodicals; 364.152
• DOI: 10.1177/1088767914521416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1088-7679

Abstract

We examined the psychological characteristics of homicide offenders ( n = 95) compared with incarcerated samples of rapists ( n = 232) and generally violent men ( n = 97) using the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), its Overcontrolled Hostility (O-H) scale, and the Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Prominent MMPI elevations were found on scales 4 and 8 for each group. While general violent offenders had the highest BDHI scores, there were no differences among groups in O-H. Cluster analyses revealed a disordered and nondisordered homicide offender type. Results are discussed in light of extant findings with directions for applied homicide offender research.