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Personality correlates of criminals: A comparative study between normal controls and criminals
1Department of Psychology, S.S.L.N.T. Women's College, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India.
Background:
Personality is a major factor in many kinds of behavior, one of which is criminal behavior. To determine what makes a criminal "a criminal," we must understand his/her personality. This study tries to identify different personality traits which link criminals to their personality.
Materials And Methods:
In the present study, 37 male criminals of district jail of Dhanbad (Jharkhand) and 36 normal controls were included on a purposive sampling basis. Each criminal was given a personal datasheet and Cattel's 16 personality factors (PFs) scale for assessing their sociodemographic variables and different personality traits.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to examine the relation between personality traits and criminal behavior, and to determine whether such factors are predictive of future recidivism.
Results:
Results indicated high scores on intelligence, impulsiveness, suspicion, self-sufficient, spontaneity, self-concept control factors, and very low scores on emotionally less stable on Cattel's 16 PFs scale in criminals as compared with normal.
Conclusion:
Criminals differ from general population or non criminals in terms of personality traits.
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