Dissociation and Amnesia : A Study with Male Offenders

Offenders often claim to have committed their crimes in a dissociative state and some allege amnesia for their criminal actions. Although much research has examined dissociative and related phenomena, such as amnesia, in victims and witnesses to traumatic and criminal events, little research has investigated dissociation in incarcerated offenders, particularly in relation to their offences. The present study used the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID) to examine a number of issues concerning dissociative and related phenomena in incarcerated male offenders. Thirty-four percent of the sample reported amnesia for their most recent criminal offence. Among other results, participants’ reports of state dissociation at the time of their criminal offences were associated with trait dissociation and amnesia for their offences. However, the reported mean state dissociation was not particularly elevated during the offences. Implications for cognitive and correctional psychology are discussed.