Predicting Aggression amongst Mentally Disordered Offenders: The role of narcissism, self-concept clarity and aggressive cognitive bias

The central aim of this review was to consider whether theories developed within mainstream aggression research might also be usefully applied in the prediction of violence amongst a mentally disordered population. Current understanding of the relationship between mental illness and violence suggests that our knowledge could be advanced by consideration of factors beyond those intrinsic to diagnosis. Particular predictors identified within mainstream research, such as narcissistic personality traits, and hostile cognitive biases, offer a clear focus for future study development. Furthermore, it would seem that there is a need for mainstream research to apply its concepts to more clinically-relevant populations, such as the mentally disordered, if they are to be considered robust and generalisable theories of aggression.