Psychophysiological correlates of personality factors of impulsive aggression in subjects with personality disorders and in mentally healthy subjects

Abstract

The comparative study of sensorimotor gating in the model of acoustic startle response (ASR) and personal traits was provided in mentally healthy offenders (24 s.) and offenders with personal disorders (15 s.) accused of crimes committed by the mechanism of impulsive aggression (IA) was provided. The control group consisted of 39 healthy male volunteers. The battery of psychometric techniques was applied, notably questionnaires of Spielberger, Rusalov’s structure of temperament questionnaire, Rotter’s modified version of the subjective control level assessment, Zuckerman and Buss-Durkee questionnaires. The basic ASR measures and prepulse modification were analyzed. Significantly different IA mechanisms were found in the groups of offenders at both the psychological and neurobiological level. It has been shown that, in individuals with personality disorders, the IA is based on the propensity to realize their own aggressive intentions or motivations, which, apparently, acquires a self-contained motivating value regardless of external stimuli. The important role of emotional factors in the mechanisms of impulsive aggressive reactions was shown in the mentally healthy offenders.