A comparative study of impulsivity, emotion regulation skills, and empathic tendencies between male inmates convicted of intentional homicide and males without criminal history

This study aims to compare male inmates convicted of intentional homicide with males without a criminal history in terms of impulsivity, emotion regulation skills, and empathic tendencies. Participants were assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Short Form (BIS-11-SF), the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ), and the Empathic Tendency Scale (ETS). The sample consisted of 150 inmates from Marmara Type L Closed Penal Institutions No. 3 and No. 7 and 140 individuals with no criminal background. After excluding 46 participants with psychiatric diagnoses, the analysis was conducted with 120 inmates and 124 participants from the non-criminal group. Data collection was performed through face-to-face interviews with inmates and online platforms for the control group. Analyses were carried out using SPSS-25, including both parametric and non-parametric group comparison tests and correlation analyses. Results revealed that the inmate group had significantly higher motor impulsivity scores. Moreover, individuals with no criminal history scored significantly higher in emotion regulation. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of empathic tendency scores. In the inmate group, impulsivity showed a significant negative correlation with both emotion regulation skills and empathic tendencies, while emotion regulation was positively correlated with empathic tendencies. Similarly, a significant negative correlation between impulsivity and emotion regulation and empathic tendencies was also found in the non-criminal group. In the study, it was observed that scores on emotion regulation skills, impulsivity, and empathic tendencies varied according to certain socio-demographic variables such as educational level, marital status, income level, relationships with family members, and substance use.The findings are discussed in light of the existing literature, and the study's limitations and suggestions for future research are presented.