Personality Styles and Aggression-Related Patterns Across Male Offender Subgroups

Abstract: Research has shown that offenders differ from nonoffenders in personality traits such as aggression and anger. However, less is known about differences within offender subgroups and personality styles conceptually related to personality disorders but assessed at a subclinical level. In this study, we examined personality styles, aggression, and anger in 342 male offenders in Bavaria, Germany, using standardized self-report measures. We hypothesized that elevated personality styles conceptually related to Cluster-B personality disorders increased aggression and anger compared to normative samples and subgroup differences. Compared to normative data, offenders exhibited higher levels of paranoid, histrionic, and rhapsodic personality styles, and lower levels of aggression-related patterns. Subgroup analysis revealed that bodily harm offenders reported higher Cluster-B personality styles than sexual offenders and higher levels of aggression and anger. These findings underscore the importance of examining offender subgroups, as differences in personality styles appear to be associated with the type and expression of criminal behavior.