Aggression in prison populations by gender and security Level: An analysis using the personality assessment Inventory

Abstract

Aggressive behaviors of varying severity and lethality are frequently reported in prison populations. However, the lack of comprehensive studies including both male and female samples limits current understanding of gender-based similarities and differences in psychological, psychopathological, and criminogenic variables. This study aimed to explore aggression-related traits —specifically the Aggression (AGG) scale and its subscales: Aggressive Attitude (AGG-A), Verbal Aggression (AGG-V), and Physical Aggression (AGG-P)—across gender and security levels within Ecuadorian prisons, using the Spanish version of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). This instrument was administered to 215 incarcerated individuals (ages 19–68; M = 34.63; SD = 10.002) across three correctional facilities in Guayaquil (Ecuador). The total sample was stratified into five matched subsamples of 43 individuals each: 1) males in low-security facilities, 2) males in medium-security facilities, 3) males in high-security facilities, 4) males across all security levels combined, and 5) females across all security levels combined. The results indicated that the female subsample scored significantly higher than the combined male subsample on the AGG-A and AGG-V subscales. However, no significant differences were found between the female group and the three male subsamples (by security level) across any of the aggression measures. These findings suggest that while the overall aggression profiles of male and female inmates are broadly similar, notable differences emerge, particularly in attitudinal and verbal hostility, which are more pronounced among women. The implications for institutional security, psychological assessment and intervention, and predicting harm-intended behaviors are discussed.