Evaluating a new model of ideation of self-harm and aggression in offenders

Self-harm and aggression amongst offenders are major social issues which need to be urgently addressed. Such behaviours are more prevalent in offenders than the general population and can lead to health and social problems (Sadeh et al., 2011). Since 2007, self-harm and aggression in prisons have risen by 77% and 80% respectively, reaching a record high last year (Ministry of Justice, 2018). These points highlight the importance of identifying the factors behind harmful behaviours in offenders to help reduce their occurrence. Self-harm and aggression are linked and best understood as self and other-directed violence (Sahlin, 2017). Thus, to deepen our understanding of harmful behaviours, it may be helpful to examine their shared and different mechanisms.

Ideation about self-harm and aggression, defined as having plans, thoughts and wishes to carry out the behaviours, is associated with individuals self-harming and being aggressive (Murray et al., 2018; Ribeiro et al., 2016). This suggests ideation forms part of the pathway to the exhibition of harmful behaviours. Therefore, examining the causal mechanisms of self-harm and aggression ideation in offenders should help inform the development of preventative strategies and treatments which reduce these ideations. These strategies may be more effective in preventing harmful behaviours in offenders by targeting the early stage of their causal pathways.

Psychopathy and emotion regulation (ER) are key psychological factors associated with self-harm and aggression ideation (Grisso et al., 2000; Pennington et al., 2015; Rajappa et al., 2012; Roll et al., 2012). Psychopathy is a personality trait characterised by low empathy, callousness and remorseless, and is more prevalent in offenders than the general population. Studies have not examined how different psychopathy components may offer distinct or similar contributions towards self-harm and aggression ideation. Furthermore, offenders with psychopathy often have ER impairments (Garofalo et al., 2018). Therefore, ER may influence the relationship between psychopathy and ideation of harmful behaviours. However, no research has examined this hypothesised relationship.

Project's aim and implications

This project aims to examine the relationship between distinct psychopathy components and ideation of self-harm and aggression in offenders, and the role of ER in this relationship. To achieve this, we will 1) build a model of factors that offenders perceive is associated with ideation of self-harm and aggression, with a great focus on psychopathy and ER, 2) test this model through statistical analysis and 3) experimentally modify ER in offenders to provide stronger evidence for the potential role of ER in the relationship between psychopathy and ideation of harmful behaviours. Study 1 will also explore the role of social (e.g. relationship with peers/staff) environmental (e.g. overcrowding) and clinical factors (e.g. medication) in ideation of harmful behaviours, which will be tested in Study 2.

This project will have important implications for theory and future investigations by addressing research gaps and using a multidisciplinary approach that investigates psychological, social, environmental, and clinical factors. To date, no studies have examined all these mechanisms together. Therefore, the project's innovative nature will provide important, novel insight and vital implications. Findings will deepen our understanding of self-harm and aggression ideation in offenders and help tackle these harmful behaviours by informing policy, prevention, intervention, and risk-management approaches in healthcare and forensic services. These implications can have lifetime benefits by facilitating offender rehabilitation and saving public money.