Psychopathy and aggressive behaviour among Nigerian male prison inmates: The moderating role of substance abuse. Issue 5 (3rd September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Onyedibe, Maria Chidi C.; Ifeagwazi, Chuka Mike; Ugwu, Dorothy I.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychology in Africa. Volume 28:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 370
• Publication Date: 2018-09-03
• Subjects: aggressive behaviour -- psychopathy -- substance abuse; Psychology -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Black people -- Latin America -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Black people -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.8496
• DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2018.1523342
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-0237

Abstract

Abstract : This study investigated the moderating role of substance abuse in the relationship between psychopathy and aggression among male prison inmates. Two hundred and sixty-seven male prison inmates from the Nigerian Prison Services were participants. The inmates were incarcerated for armed robbery (27.3%), theft (31.1%), murder (12.8%), rape/assault/child abuse (19.1%), burglary/arson (5.6%) and kidnapping (1.5%) in Enugu prisons, Nigeria. Their mean age was 28.32; SD = 5.53. Their length of time in prison ranges from 1 to 12 years, with a mean of 3.38 years. Participants responded to self-reported measures of aggression, psychopathy, and drug abuse. The result of the moderated regression analysis indicated substance abuse to moderate the relationship between primary psychopathy and verbal aggression, and between secondary psychopathy and hostility. The study findings underscore the importance of psychological intervention aimed at addressing aggression among prison inmates with histories of substance abuse and psychopathy.