Self-Esteem and Aggression in Forensic Psychiatric Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Relationship Between Self-Esteem Fragility and Aggression in Clinical Forensic Patients
IRAS ID
168429
Contact name
Carly Samson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Negative views of the self are prominent features of many mental health difficulties and have been highlighted as important risk factors in aggressive behaviour. Self-esteem has consistently been linked to aggression, although whether it is high or low self-esteem that characterises this relationship is unclear. Research within the general population indicates that fragile self-esteem in particular (a discrepancy between unconscious and conscious evaluations of self-worth) is an important factor in aggression. A discrepancy between conscious and unconscious evaluations of the self have been identified in people with high levels of narcissistic and psychopathic traits, and at a clinical level (in personality disorders including Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Psychopathy) these traits are linked to aggressive behaviour. There is a high prevalence of people with PD diagnoses in forensic populations, therefore it is possible that, at a clinical level, a discrepancy between conscious and unconscious evaluations of self-worth is related to an increased risk of violent behaviour. The purpose of this study is to explore whether self-esteem fragility explains the relationship between narcissism and psychopathy and aggression in a psychiatric sample of people with violent forensic histories, who will be recruited from a high security forensic hospital in England. Participants will be asked to complete self-report questionnaires to measure levels of conscious self-esteem, narcissistic and psychopathic traits, and a short computerised test to measure levels of unconscious self-esteem. Information regarding violent forensic history and institutional aggression will be obtained from participants’ medical files. Findings could be used to predict future risk of violence and reoffending and will have important implications for the treatment of offenders.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0686
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion