2020 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 19-31
The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that autistic traits are related to alexithymia traits cause violent behavior by increasing aggressiveness. Two hundred and fifty-seven juvenile delinquents participated in the study. Their autistic traits were measured using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient; aggressiveness was measured using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire; alexithymia traits were determined using the Alexithymia Scale for Adolescence; and violent behaviors were quantified on the basis of violent behaviors demonstrated by the participants during the past year and month. As a result of the analysis, we found that poor communication, which is one of the autistic traits and related to alexithymia traits, was associated with violent behavior as it increased aggressiveness. In addition, poor imagination, which is an autistic trait and related to alexithymia traits, was directly associated with violent behavior. Therefore, this study suggested that some of autistic traits are related to violent behavior by increasing aggressiveness, and directly related to violent behavior.
