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Hostility, Crime and Drug Dependence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Michael Gossop
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX
Alec Roy
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX

Extract

In a study of male addicts attending a London drug dependence unit, it was found that convicted addicts tended to score more highly on measures of hostility than non-convicted subjects. The differences in hostility between the convicted and non-convicted groups were most clearly seen on the violent crimes variable, although addicts convicted of drug-possession and of non-drug crimes were also more hostile than non-convicted subjects. It is suggested that hostility acts as a personality factor which predisposes the individual towards criminal behaviour, and that the more hostile subjects may also be more likely to be apprehended and convicted.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1977 

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