A study of the aggression of female psychopathic criminals : Focusing on the PCL-R and Rorschach tests

Recently, with the emergence of female-related crimes such as unfamiliar murders, attention has been drawn to female crimes with completely different mechanisms than in the past. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the relationship between aggression, one of the various characteristics of female psychopaths, in order to explain violent crimes by female psychopaths. This study was conducted based on the results of comparative studies between the aggressiveness scores of the Rorschach test and the PCL-R factors, along with the aggressiveness-related characteristics of the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised) that have been empirically studied overseas. As a method for explaining the aggressiveness of female psychopaths, comparative studies between psychopathic women and non-psychopathic women, and comparative studies between male psychopaths and female psychopaths were analyzed. The policy implications derived from this study are as follows. First, since the emotional psychopathy characteristics of women are related to physical aggression, active research on female aggression should be conducted in relation to violent crimes that have mainly focused on men. Second, in the case of female psychopaths, when the Aggressive Past (AgPast) response score is high in the Rorschach test, it functions as a cognitive device that identifies with the victim and rationalizes their aggressive behavior (since they are victims, they have the right to take away from others), which is an important clue for their treatment and prevention. Third, in the case of women who have been physically abused throughout their lives, it affects their ability to control their emotions, and since it is linked to emotional psychopathy, the risk of violence is the highest, so special policy considerations are needed for preventing and eradicating abuse.