Caracterización de las dimensiones de impulsividad, agresividad, empatía y regulación emocional en una muestra de personas privadas de la libertad en la cárcel y penitenciaria de media seguridad de Bogotá- CPMSBOG

Abstract

Psychological assessment in prison contexts plays a relevant role in the understanding of criminal behaviour and penitentiary interventions. Psychological dimensions such as empathy, aggressiveness, impulsivity, and emotional regulation significantly influence criminal behaviour. This study explored and characterised these dimensions in 110 persons deprived of liberty at the Medium Security Prison and Penitentiary of Bogotá (CPMSBOG). A mixed-methods design was implemented, featuring a comparative component based on natural groups and a predictive cross-sectional element, conducted through a three-phase procedure. Psychometric instruments adapted for Colombia were applied, including the Personal, Sociodemographic, and Criminal Data Questionnaire; the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale BIS-11; the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire RPQ; the Aggression Questionnaire AQ; the Interpersonal Reactivity Index IRI; the Empathy Quotient EQ; and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale DERS. The results showed a tendency to act impulsively under intense emotions and a strong inclination toward novelty and risk, especially in low-supervision settings. A moderate propensity for aggressiveness was identified, with a distribution skewed toward the lower end, although individual scores were high, with physical aggression and hostility being the highest subscales. Empathy showed a moderate-to-high tendency, indicating an adequate capacity to cognitively and affectively understand others’ emotions. Emotional regulation presented some moderate difficulties, reflecting problems in identifying, recognising, and managing emotions. The findings have significant implications in the legal and correctional fields, as identifying multidimensional psychological profiles facilitates the design of more effective and personalised interventions for educational or restorative programs.