TY - JOUR
T1 - MMPI-2-RF Differences Between Violent Offending and Institutional Violence Among Incarcerated Women
AU - Gottfried, Emily D.
AU - Mulay, Abby L.
AU - Schenk, Allison M.
AU - Vitacco, Michael J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2022 Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
PY - 2022/8/1
Y1 - 2022/8/1
N2 - The examination of violence perpetrated by female offenders remains an understudied topic, as research typically focuses on male offender samples. As such, it remains unclear what personality characteristics may be associated with the perpetration of violence among female offenders. This study sought to examine the relationship between personality characteristics, as assessed by the MMPI-2-RF, and engagement in violence, within a sample of 228 incarcerated women. Results indicated that women serving time for a violent offense obtained higher mean scores on MMPI-2-RF scales related to underreporting, atypical thoughts/experiences, and paranoia. Women who obtained disciplinary reports for violence within the institution obtained higher mean scores on MMPI-2-RF scales related to behavior/externalizing dysfunction, overactivation, and aggression. Taken together, violence was most strongly associated with the MMPI-2-RF scales related to paranoia and atypical thoughts/experiences (e.g., THD, PSYC-r). This study provides new data on the viability of the MMPI-2-RF to provide critical insights into violent and aggression behavior in female inmates, an understudied population and demonstrate the instrument’s efficacy in assessing characteristics associated with violent behavior.
AB - The examination of violence perpetrated by female offenders remains an understudied topic, as research typically focuses on male offender samples. As such, it remains unclear what personality characteristics may be associated with the perpetration of violence among female offenders. This study sought to examine the relationship between personality characteristics, as assessed by the MMPI-2-RF, and engagement in violence, within a sample of 228 incarcerated women. Results indicated that women serving time for a violent offense obtained higher mean scores on MMPI-2-RF scales related to underreporting, atypical thoughts/experiences, and paranoia. Women who obtained disciplinary reports for violence within the institution obtained higher mean scores on MMPI-2-RF scales related to behavior/externalizing dysfunction, overactivation, and aggression. Taken together, violence was most strongly associated with the MMPI-2-RF scales related to paranoia and atypical thoughts/experiences (e.g., THD, PSYC-r). This study provides new data on the viability of the MMPI-2-RF to provide critical insights into violent and aggression behavior in female inmates, an understudied population and demonstrate the instrument’s efficacy in assessing characteristics associated with violent behavior.
KW - female offenders
KW - institutional misconduct
KW - MMPI-2-RF
KW - violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135177183&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85135177183&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1891/VV-2021-0065
DO - 10.1891/VV-2021-0065
M3 - Article
C2 - 35705444
AN - SCOPUS:85135177183
SN - 0886-6708
VL - 37
SP - 497
EP - 514
JO - Violence and Victims
JF - Violence and Victims
IS - 4
ER -