Abstract
Interpersonal violence is a persistent social problem which continues to present a challenge to service providers to develop treatment to target offenders' needs and to reduce recidivism. By exploring how an individual's characteristic interpersonal style relates to offending behaviour we can begin to understand more about the motivations and functions of violent behaviour. Employing a correlational design, this thesis applied an interpersonal theoretical framework to interpersonally violent behaviour, explored the relationship between trait aggressiveness and state violence, and explored differences in interpersonal style amongst groups of violent offenders and non-offenders. Three samples of British males were generated (336 non-offenders, 120 prisoners with convictions for violent offences, 56 mentally disordered violent offenders), all of whom completed a series of self-report questionnaires; Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex Scales (IIP-C), Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), General Perceived Self-Efficacy, Inventory of Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Psychological Estrangement. Using the IIP-C, a circumplex structure was generated within which to explore differences in interpersonal style between groups and to locate violent behaviour. Offender groups reported the highest levels of interpersonal problems on the 'Vindictive/Self-Centred' and 'Cold/Distant' IIP-C scales, and 'Physical aggression' and 'Hostility' scales of the AQ. Three IIP-C scales discriminated between groups of offenders with differing histories of interpersonally violent offences, indicative of some level of homogeneity of interpersonal style within offence-related groups. Exploration of the inter-relationships between the IIP-C and the AQ indicated that aggressive behaviour serves an implicit communicative function, related to a range of interpersonal styles. Results indicate that the Interpersonal Circumplex is a useful model for contributing to our understanding of interpersonally violent behaviour. Furthermore, the self-reported higher levels of both trait aggression and specific interpersonal problems amongst some violent offenders suggest that a focus on interpersonal style in conjunction with criminogenic need might be a complementary approach to the treatment of violent offenders.