As a forensic clinical psychologist and schema therapist, I spent approximately 10 years consulting at a Maximum Security Unit (MSU), where my primary role was to assess prisoners placed there due to violent behavior. My work involved evaluating these individuals, composing risk assessments, and analyzing the institutional violence that necessitated their placement in the MSU.
To fully appreciate the psychological dynamics at play in such a setting, it’s essential to understand the concept of sadism. Sadism, the psychological concept where individuals derive pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others, is a multifaceted trait often tied to personality disorders and the “Dark Triad”—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Research highlights that sadistic tendencies are measurable, relatively stable over time, and can appear in forms like sexual sadism (pleasure from pain-inflicting sexual acts) or non-sexual sadism (e.g., bullying or reveling in others’ misfortune). While mild sadistic traits may exist in the general population, they become concerning when extreme or disruptive. The origins of sadism likely stem from a mix of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, such as childhood abuse or neglect. Understanding sadism is critical, as it can fuel harmful or even criminal behavior, necessitating targeted interventions and treatments.
However, over time, my curiosity led me beyond the surface of their actions to explore the psychological underpinnings of their violence—specifically, their fantasies. What emerged was a disturbing yet fascinating pattern: many of these men spent significant portions of their lives immersed in detailed, sadistic fantasies of torture and murder. These fantasies, often originating in childhood trauma, appeared to serve as a coping mechanism for feelings of powerlessness and abuse. In this article, I will discuss how these findings connect to schema therapy—particularly coping schema modes—and propose that, for some individuals, sadism is a maladaptive coping strategy developed in response to early trauma.
The Prevalence of Violent Fantasies in the MSU
In the MSU, my assessments initially focused on understanding the specific incidents of institutional violence that led to each prisoner’s placement. But as I built rapport with these individuals, I began asking about their inner world—specifically, their thoughts and fantasies about violence. The responses were striking. Many prisoners admitted to spending large amounts of time fantasizing about committing violent acts against others. These weren’t vague or fleeting thoughts; they were vivid, sadistic scenarios involving torture and murder, meticulously crafted in their minds.
What made this even more compelling was how these fantasies seemed to simmer just below the surface, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation. A perceived disrespect, a minor conflict, or even a moment of frustration could trigger an explosive reaction, as if the fantasies were a pressure cooker waiting for an outlet. This pattern suggested that their violent tendencies weren’t solely a response to the immediate environment of the MSU but were deeply tied to a psychological process—one that had been with them for far longer than their incarceration.
Childhood Trauma: The Birthplace of Sadistic Fantasies
Beneath the surface of their brutal fantasies lies a common thread of severe childhood trauma. Many prisoners recounted upbringings rife with physical and sexual abuse, wherein home was less a sanctuary and more a battleground—a breeding ground for helplessness and terror. In this grave context, the development of sadistic fantasies served as a crucial coping mechanism—a way to reclaim a semblance of control in a world that had stripped them of power.
Picture a child, consistently battered and violated, with no means to escape their torment. It’s not uncommon for their psyche to react by fantasizing about empowerment—imagining themselves in the role of the aggressor, inflicting pain rather than enduring it. However, this coping strategy doesn’t remain confined to the trauma of childhood; it inevitably morphs into a generalized response, manifesting in various contexts—whether against bullies, authority figures, or peers.
Schema Therapy: A Lens to Understand Coping Modes
To make sense of this phenomenon, schema therapy provides a powerful framework. Developed by Jeffrey Young, schema therapy focuses on early maladaptive schemas—deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that form in childhood due to unmet emotional needs or traumatic experiences. These schemas persist into adulthood, often driving dysfunctional behaviors like violence.
Within schema therapy, coping modes are the strategies individuals use to manage the distress tied to their schemas. These modes fall into three categories:
- Overcompensatory Modes: Fighting against the schema by adopting behaviors that counteract it.
- Avoidant Modes: Escaping or numbing the emotional pain of the schema.
- Surrender Modes: Giving in to the schema and perpetuating its effects.
For the prisoners I worked with, their sadistic fantasies and violent behaviors align with overcompensatory coping modes. Take, for example, a prisoner with a mistrust/abuse schema, formed from years of childhood abuse. This schema tells them that others will inevitably harm them, leaving them perpetually vulnerable. To cope, they overcompensate—fantasizing about and enacting violence to become the aggressor rather than the victim. In these moments, sadism becomes a tool to feel powerful and in control, a stark reversal of the powerlessness they endured as children.
Recognising these coping modes, as articulated by schema researchers like David Bernstein, elucidates why sadistic behaviours manifest as they do in forensic populations. The predator, bully, predator and conning manipulator modes are just a few expressions of this drive for control and superiority, frequently converging with sadistic tendencies. By framing sadism through this lens, it becomes evident that rather than an innate evil, it emerges as a coping mechanism—a tragic bid for power born from trauma.
Consider a prisoner I’ll call Mark (a pseudonym). As a boy, Mark endured relentless physical abuse from a parent, leaving him terrified and helpless. In his mind, he began imagining elaborate scenes of revenge—not just against his abuser, but against anyone who crossed him. By the time he reached adulthood, this overcompensatory mode had solidified. A guard’s sharp tone or a peer’s sideways glance could trigger those same fantasies, pushing him toward violence as a means of reasserting control. For Mark, sadism wasn’t about pleasure in others’ suffering; it was about never feeling powerless again.
Applying Schema Therapy in Forensic Settings
Understanding sadism as a coping strategy opens the door to more effective interventions, particularly through schema therapy. In a forensic context, this approach involves two key steps:
Identifying Schemas and Modes: Therapists work with prisoners to uncover the schemas driving their behaviour—like mistrust/abuse or defectiveness/shame—and the overcompensatory modes, such as sadistic fantasies, they use to cope.
Developing Healthier Alternatives: Once these patterns are recognized, prisoners can learn to interrupt them. Techniques like mindfulness help them notice when they’re slipping into a violent fantasy, while emotion regulation skills offer new ways to manage stress. Interpersonal effectiveness training can improve their interactions to get their 'healthy' needs, reducing the triggers that fuel their overcompensation.
Beyond this, schema therapy’s experiential techniques—such as imagery rescripting and chair work—allow prisoners to revisit and heal from their childhood traumas. In imagery rescripting, for instance, a prisoner might reimagine an abusive memory, but this time with an empowered outcome, reducing the emotional weight that drives their coping modes. Over time, this can diminish their reliance on sadism as a shield against vulnerability.
The Bigger Picture: Rehabilitation and Beyond
My decade in the MSU taught me that violence in forensic populations is rarely simple. The sadistic fantasies of these prisoners were not just symptoms of a “bad character” but echoes of a traumatic past, amplified by years of maladaptive coping. By viewing sadism through the lens of schema therapy, we can shift the focus from punishment to understanding—and from containment to rehabilitation.
This approach has the potential to lower institutional violence, improve prisoners’ emotional well-being, and reduce recidivism. Yet, it’s not without challenges. Many prisoners cling to their fantasies as a source of strength, and the rigid structure of the MSU can hinder therapeutic progress. Still, the promise of breaking the cycle of violence makes it worth pursuing.
Conclusion
The men I met in the MSU were more than their crimes. Behind their violent acts and sadistic fantasies lay stories of childhoods shattered by abuse, where powerlessness gave birth to a desperate need for control. Schema therapy offers a way to unravel these stories, revealing sadism as a coping strategy rather than an endpoint. As forensic psychologists, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to look beyond the surface, addressing the trauma at the root of violence. In doing so, we can help these individuals move from a world of fantasies and fists to one of healing and hope.
For those inspired to deepen their expertise, I encourage you to consider signing up for live training with Shay Addison and myself. Our upcoming two-day workshop in advanced forensic schema therapy offers an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your practice. Dive into a comprehensive curriculum covering forensic schema therapy theory, specialized mode mapping for complex personality disorders, crime-specific applications (e.g., firesetting, violent offending), and advanced techniques like imagery rescripting. You’ll also explore innovative integrations, such as Stoic principles to fortify the Healthy Adult Mode, Compassion-Focused Therapy for shame and guilt, and self-care strategies tailored for forensic therapists.
With interactive role-plays, case discussions, and 14 CPD hours, this event equips you with practical skills to handle challenging modes, navigate ethical complexities, and connect with like-minded professionals. Spaces are limited—register now to secure your spot in this transformative experience!
https://events.humanitix.com/queenstown-the-forensic-schema-sessions-live-event
References
Bernstein, D. P., Arntz, A., & de Vos, M. (2007). Schema focused therapy in forensic settings: Theoretical model and recommendations for best clinical practice. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 6(2), 169-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2007.10471261
Foulkes, L. (2019). Sadism: Review of an elusive construct. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 44, 12-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.11.003
Knight, R. A., & Guay, J. P. (2018). The role of psychopathy and sexuality in a female serial killer. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 63(2), 475-483. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13585
Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Press.
