Psychological Characteristics of Women who Committed Socially Dangerous Acts Against Human Life and Health

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study of individual psychological characteristics of women who have committed socially dangerous acts against human life and health. The study is based on analysis of stationary forensic psychiatric (including a psychological study of general characteristics of an individual) and comprehensive forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations of women accused of crimes against human life and health. The sample herein  presents several groups of women, who were divided based on their mental  state at  the time  of committing offence. Results of the study allowed determining typical features within the structure of personality that are specific to the given contingent of criminals. The article analyzes psychological characteristics of women who have committed crimes in the presence of various nosologic groups of mental disorders,  not excluding criminal sanity (mental illnesses that do not affect the ability of a person to realize the significance of their actions and / or control them at the time of offense) in respect of aggressive criminal acts. The results of the research define the main features of emotional-volitional sphere in the personality structure of the abovementioned group. The study has formed the main principles of the impact of psychological  factors  on  the  development  of  asocial  nature  of  women  who   have committed aggressive criminal acts. The  study  contains  the  analysis  of  mutual interference of certain personality traits and life situation, which subsequently lead to committing a crime.