Exploration of socio-family and psychological characteristics of young males convicted of murder or attempted murder in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: Different developmental and environmental vulnerability conditions can influence violent behavior in young people. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of young males who were convicted of murder or attempted murder in the province of Buenos Aires, based on indicators of maturity, impulsivity, and socio-family vulnerability. Materials and Methods: Descriptive and exploratory study. The sample consisted of 195 young men (mean: 16.8 years) imprisoned in reformatory institutions of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as they were convicted of murder (n=130), repeated murder (n=15), or attempted murder (n=50). Self and hetero-informed instruments, and professional assessment scales were used, namely: the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFC); the Psychosocial Maturity Inventory (PSM); the Weinberg Adjustment Inventory (WAI); the Resistance to Peer Influence Questionnaire (RPIQ); the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV); the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits (ICU), and the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11). Results: The distribution of the total BIS 11 and the PSM Individual Adaptation were normal (mean: 62.33 and 6.38, respectively). The mean of the total PCL:YV was 25.87. In 32.8% of the cases a first degree relative was also imprisoned. “Impulsive” and “Nonimpulsive” clusters were empirically established. Conclusions: The participants’ profile is characterized by several psychological and socio-family vulnerabilities that should be targeted in preventive interventions aimed at preventing violent recidivism.

Introducción. Diversas condiciones de vulnerabilidad dependientes del desarrollo y de las influencias medioambientales pueden influir en las conductas violentas juveniles. Objetivos. Describir las características de jóvenes que cometieron homicidio o intento de homicidio atendiendo a indicadores de madurez, impulsividad y vulnerabilidad sociofamiliar. Materiales y métodos. Estudio de diseño descriptivo y exploratorio. Los participantes fueron 195 varones jóvenes (media: 16.8 años) institucionalizados en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, por orden judicial por haber cometido homicidio (n=130), homicidio reiterado (n=15) o tentativa de homicidio (n=50). Se utilizaron instrumentos auto y heteroinformados y las escalas de evaluación profesional Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFC), Psychosocial Maturity Inventory (PSM), Weinberg Adjustment Inventory (WAI), Resistance to Peer Influence (RPI), Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits (ICU) y Barrat Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS 11). Resultados. La distribución de BIS 11 total y de PSM Adecuación Individual fueron normales, con medias de 62.33 y 6.38, respectivamente; la media de PCL:YV total fue 25.87. El 32.8% de los jóvenes tenía familiares de primer grado presos. Se configuraron empíricamente los clusters “impulsivo” y “no impulsivo”. Conclusiones. El perfil de los participantes se caracteriza por diversas vulnerabilidades psicológicas y sociofamiliares que deberían ser blanco de intervención preventiva de recidiva violenta.