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Hostility, Crime and Drug Dependence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Michael Gossop  and
Alec Roy
Michael Gossop
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX
Alec Roy
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX
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Extract

In a study of male addicts attending a London drug dependence unit, it was found that convicted addicts tended to score more highly on measures of hostility than non-convicted subjects. The differences in hostility between the convicted and non-convicted groups were most clearly seen on the violent crimes variable, although addicts convicted of drug-possession and of non-drug crimes were also more hostile than non-convicted subjects. It is suggested that hostility acts as a personality factor which predisposes the individual towards criminal behaviour, and that the more hostile subjects may also be more likely to be apprehended and convicted.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 130 , Issue 3 , March 1977 , pp. 272 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1977 

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