Download Personality and Crime - Criminological Theory - Lecture Notes and more Study notes Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! Personality and Crime 1. Are certain personality traits related to crime and deviance? 2. Is there a “criminal personality?” What is a “Personality?” ν Webster’s dictionary: “The totality of distinct traits of a particular person.” ν Eysenck (1991) Traits = consistent characteristics of people that are relevant to wide variety of behavioral domains. 1. Stable over time. 2. Cross-sectional consistency Measuring Personality ν General Standardized Tests – MMPI (Minnesota Muliphasic Personality Inventory) • Pd – CPI (California Personality Inventory) • So – MPQ (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire Personality and Crime ν Pd (MMPI) and So (CPI) are related to criminal offending, but… – Questions in Pd and So include delinquency, probation and parole violations… – These scales were differentiate identify criminals ν MPQ yields 3 “super factors” – Constraint – Negative Emotionality – Positive Emotionality MPQ traits and factors ν CONSTRAINT: – Traditionalism: desires a conservative social environment, endorses high moral standards – Harm Avoidance: avoids excitement and danger, prefers safe activities even if they are tedious – Control: is reflective, cautious, careful, rational, planful ν NEGATIVE EMOTIONALITY – Aggression: hurts others for advantage; will frighten and cause discomfort for others – Alienation: feels mistreated, victimized, betrayed, and the target of false rumors – Stress Reaction: is nervous, vulnerable, sensitive, prone to worry Docsity.com MPQ traits and factors ν POSITIVE EMOTIONALITY – Achievement: works hard; enjoys demanding projects and working long hours. – Social Potency: is forceful and decisive; fond of leadership roles – Well-Being: has a happy, cheerful disposition; feels good about self and sees a bright future – Social Closeness: is sociable, likes people and turns to others for comfort MPQ and Crime ν Caspi et al. (1994) – Kids from Pittsburgh, and adolescents from Dunedin, New Zealand – Research Question: Do MPQ personality constructs relate to crime and delinquency (Self-reported, official, parent/teacher reports). – Findings: Negative Emotionality and Constraint related to crime. – Delinquents = high negative emotionality and low constraint What determines personality? ν Eysneck – Largely inherited ν Caspi et al. – Constraint is instilled by parents – Negative emotionality may have neurobiological underpinnings A “criminal personality?” ν Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) from DSM-IV 1. Disregard for the rights of others. At least three of the following: behaves in a way that is grounds for arrest, deceitful and manipulative, impulsive, aggressive, irresponsible, lack of remorse 2. Age 18 or older 3. A history of child conduct disorder 4. Antisocial behavior not a product of schizophrenic episode The “psychopath” ν Hervey Cleckley’s (1982) The Mask of Sanity ν Key features: Manipulative, Superficial charm, Above-average intelligence, Absence of psychotic symptoms, Absence of anxiety, Lack of remorse, Failure to learn from experience, Egocentric, Lack of emotional depth ν Other Characteristics: Trivial Sex life, Unreliable, Failure to follow a life plan, Untruthful, Suicide attempts rarely genuine, Impulsive, Antisocial behavior Docsity.com
