An Examination of Psychopathic Traits and Motivations for Violence Involving Firearms and Other Weapons

• In Event: Factors in Violence and Homicide

Abstract

Past researchers have examined the general relationship between mental illness and violence, though limited research has investigated the relationship between psychopathic traits and specific weapon choice in violent acts. This question was examined with an inpatient forensic sample recruited from a Midwestern state psychiatric hospital. Participants (N=80) had been adjudicated Not Responsible by Reason of Insanity or involuntarily committed due to mental illness and dangerousness or sexual dangerousness. Psychopathy was measured via the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R). Participants who reported engaging in firearm violence had significantly higher PPI-R total scores than individuals who reported no firearm or other weapon violence, F(2,64)=6.564, p=0.003. Participants reporting past firearm violence also had significantly higher PPI-R subscale scores for Social Influence (ability to charm and influence others), F(2,75)=4.22, p=0.18, and Fearlessness (eagerness for risk-seeking behaviors), F(2,76)=3.121, p=0.050, than those who reported no weapon violence, but not higher than those who reported violence with a weapon other than a firearm. They further reported higher PPI-R factor scores for Self-Centered Impulsivity, F(2,74)=5.750, p=0.005. A model of these traits and other demographic variables predicting firearm violence will be presented. The relevance of these findings to the relationship between weapon violence and mental illness will be discussed.

Authors

• Kyle Siddoway, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Elizabeth C. Low, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Heath J. Hodges, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Mario J. Scalora, University of Nebraska-Lincoln