Religiosity as a protective factor in the risk management system of socially dangerous behavior of persons with mental disorders

The preliminary results of a study of religiosity in individuals with mental disorders with offensive behavior (n = 40) were presented. It was determined that patients who committed socially dangerous acts showed high interest in religious topics. The vast majority (80.0%) recognized themselves as believers. Only 20.0% of patients observed religious customs and rituals. Less than half (45.0%) reported that they “believe in the soul.” A quarter of those surveyed addressed religion only in critical situations (25.0%). Most of them identified external religiosity according to G. Allport, a tendency to use the religious concept for self-justification and comfort. Statistically significant associations were established between various characteristics of religious orientation, structure of individual religiosity, and level of subjective control. Based on the data obtained, it was said about religiosity as a resource that restrained manifestations of public danger, and prospects for the development of this protective factor in the risk management system were discussed.