PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND ANGER IN INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE OFFENDERS

The current literature on psychopathology and anger suggests that both contribute to interpersonal violence. The present study examined psyc hopathology and anger expression with two objectives: to confirm previ ous distinctions of personality type among abusive individuals and to examine the relation between these types and anger. Cluster analysis w as conducted with data gathered from 40 subjects. Results suggested co nfirmation of four clusters of interpersonal violence offenders. Furth ermore, the most pathological cluster type reported the highest level of total anger experience, while the histrionic cluster type reported the lowest anger expression. These results provide tentative support f or a positive relationship between psychopathology and anger, as well as for the distinction between overcontrolled and under-controlled ang er as subtypes of interpersonal violence offenders.