Personality mechanisms of alcohol-related violence

Personality variables involved in alcohol-related violence were studied by comparing MMPI scores of four different groups (N = 259): (1) men who committed murder while intoxicated (violent while intoxicated condition); (2) men who committed murder while sober (violent while sober condition); (3) those who were admitted to a psychiatric unit with a nonalcohol and nonviolence related problem (nonviolent and nonintoxicated condition); and (4) those admitted to a detoxification unit with no evidence of violence prior to admission (nonviolent but intoxicated condition). The violent groups were found to be more paranoid but less manic than the nonviolent groups. Men who commit murder while sober tend to be less interpersonally sensitive (low MF scores) but more psychopathic (high PD scores) than those who commit murder while intoxicated. Those who commit murder while intoxicated tend to be less psychologically minded (high L scores) than those who become intoxicated but who do not kill. Suggestions for prevention and treatment of violence and future research directions are proposed in light of these results.