Features of borderline personality and violence

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that borderline personality characterizes extreme violence by assessing features of borderline and schizotypal personality in three groups: Murderers, Violent, and Nonviolent adult offenders. Murderers had higher borderline personality scores than nonviolent offenders (p < .04). A test for linear trend indicated a linear increase in borderline scores with increasing degree of violence across the three groups (p < .02). No group differences were observed for schizotypal personality. Borderline traits associated with extreme violence consisted of unstable, intense relationships and affective instability. Group differences were not an artifact of group differences in age, social class, IQ, or number of previous custodies. It is concluded that borderline personality may predispose toward extreme forms of violence.