Evaluation of criminal thinking, emotional intelligence, psychological mentality and impulsivity in substance addicted individuals who commit violent crimes against human beings

Substance use disorder and violent crime are a global public health crisis, and many biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors contribute to its development. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between violent crime against humanity and criminal thinking, psychological mindedness, emotional intelligence, and impulsivity in individuals with substance use disorders. 30 patients diagnosed with substance use disorder according to DSM-V and who committed violent crimes against humans, 30 patients diagnosed with substance use disorder and who did not commit violent crimes against humans, and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The participants were administered the sociodemographic data form, Psychological Mindedness Scale (PMS), Criminal Thought Scale (CWS), Emotional Intelligence Trait Scale Short Form (EIS-SF), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BSI) and Go/No Go test. The results of our research show that the patient group had higher chronic and situational impulsivity than healthy controls, had difficulty in response inhibition and making quick decisions, and also had attention problems. It was found that the patient group's emotional intelligence was low in all areas except the sociability sub-dimension (subjective well-being, self-control, emotionality and total score); their criminal thinking was high (entitlement, power orientation, justification, blaming others, personal irresponsibility); and their psychological mindedness was low (insight, interest and total score). According to correlation analyses, as emotional intelligence increases, psychological mindedness increases, while criminal thoughts and impulsivity decrease. Important findings from our study include that substance users who commit violent crimes against people are more likely to grow up separated from their parents and consume more alcohol than non-violent individuals and healthy controls. The results of our study highlight the importance of childhood upbringing and the relationship between alcohol and crime. Furthermore, efforts to improve emotional intelligence can reduce crime rates, potentially leading to significant public health benefits.