Impulsivity and empathy in a sample of offenders under treatment: Differences between sexual and non-sexual offenders

Abstract

Both impulsivity, understood as a personality trait, and empathy have been considered as factors closely related to delinquency. The present study assesses impulsivity and empathy in a sample of offenders under treatment. To this end, the results obtained by 80 convicts (74 men and 6 women) in the I7 Personality Questionnaire I7 − which measures impulsiveness, venture someness and empathy− were analyzed. The scores obtained by the sample of offenders were comparable to those of normative samples. However, when comparing the results obtained by the group of sexual offenders with those of the group of non-sexual offenders, significantly lower scores were observed in impulsiveness and venture someness among sex offenders, as well as lower rates of recidivism and criminal records. This study evidences the need to add instruments that measure impulsivity in the assessment of offenders under treatment, as well as the inclusion of specific therapeutic ingredients, which could include pharmacological tools, in those subjects with higher levels of impulsivity.