L'évaluation du risque de comportements violents : le point sur la question

This paper reviews the present views and methods in the field of violence risk assessment. The perpetration of violent behaviours must raise the issue of the perpetrator's psychological constitution and functioning. But being able to anticipate such dangerous deeds implies other dimensions as well: one must also consider contextual elements, “countertransferential” feelings elicited by the perpetrator in relevant individuals, and potential outcomes of the evaluation that is carried out. Nowadays, this is performed by means of so-called “Violence Risk Assessments”, using various instruments. Actuarial instruments are designed to provide a statistical estimate of future violence risk, while (semi-structured) clinical methods assist clinical professional decision-making with guidelines developed according to up-to-date knowledge in the field. The key concept of psychopathy, its measurement and implications, are also discussed, and valuable indicators are recommended, to be used both for violence risk management as well as for the development of a clinical framework on this topic.