An exploration of the role of personality in parents who maltreat their children

This thesis explores the role of parental personality in the perpetration of child maltreatment. Findings from a systematic review of relevant literature highlight a particular dearth of recent research on the topic. Little consensus on the relationship between personality traits and the perpetration of child maltreatment as a discrete entity, or for specific maltreatment types, is shown. As such, the need for further research into the role of personality in child maltreatment is warranted. A critique of the Millon Clinical Mutiaxial Inventory, Third Edition (MCMI-III) presents an examination of the reliability and validity of the tool, and limitations are discussed. Finally, a study to investigate the role of personality in the perpetration of child maltreatment is reported, utilising a ‘risk-referred’ sample of parents involved in care proceedings (n = 90). Significant findings are presented, including the difference between the profiles and response styles of male and female perpetrators and the difference between perpetrators of multiple forms of maltreatment and single forms of maltreatment. Female perpetrators tend to show self-defeating characteristics with a higher level of Debasement whereas males tended to present a profile consistent with socially desirable responding. Perpetrators of multiple forms of maltreatment showed significantly greater levels of pathology. Findings are also made with regard to the impact of childhood adversity upon adult personality and the subsequent link to the perpetration of child maltreatment. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research outcomes and also with regard to implications upon treatment and risk-assessment of perpetrators of child maltreatment