Psychological profiles of male offenders: A research project in Italian prisons.

Introduction Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive phenomenon that impacts on mental health and negatively affects social and economic aspects. The contribute proposes a research of the Lazio Order of Psychologists, in collaboration with the Italian Department of Prison Administration, aiming at identifying personality characteristics of batterers for the development of treatment strategies. Previous studies identified three types of perpetrators, thus distributed (Dutton, 2007): 30% Impulsive, 40% Instrumental and 30% Overcontrolled. While the first two are characterized by specific disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder respectively, the third does not suit with a specific one. Objective The aim was the assessment and the management of risk for violent recidivism of 57 man, imprisoned for crimes related to IPV. Method The assessment of inmate envisaged clinical interviews dispensed in one or more sessions, the Rorschach Test and the PCL-R for the evaluation of psychopathy (Hare, 1993). Results The percentage of the three types of offenders is coherent with literature, as well as personality characteristics. Moreover, a significant data emerged about overcontrolled population: violence committed is related to conflicting relationship dynamics and not abusive relationships. Conclusion The identification of the personality characteristics of offenders and the differentiation between abusive and conflicting relationships are useful aspects to define the psychological treatability and to manage the violence. Particularly, the overcontrolled population could be more treatable because less affected from severe personality disorders. Therefore, future research should explore this population, not enough studied, in order to define adequate treatment strategies. Theoretical and clinical implications will be discussed.