Ethnicity, criminality, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Sociology

Background:

• The Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) is a tool used to measure hostility.
• Previous research suggested a potential link between hostility, measured by the BDHI, and violent behavior.
• Understanding predictors of criminal behavior, particularly violence, is crucial in criminology and forensic psychology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) and criminal behavior.
• To examine if the BDHI can differentiate between violent and nonviolent offenders.
• To explore these relationships across different ethnic groups within a male offender population.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) scores.
• Comparison of BDHI scores in relation to violent versus nonviolent criminality.
• Examination of data stratified by ethnic group membership (white, Mexican-American, black).

Main Results:

• No statistically significant association was found between BDHI scores and violent or nonviolent criminality.
• This lack of association held true for the total sample of adult male offenders.
• No significant relationship was observed within individual ethnic groups (white, Mexican-American, black).

Conclusions:

• The Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) may not be a valid tool for discriminating between violent and nonviolent offenders.
• Findings contradict previous claims regarding the BDHI's utility in predicting violent behavior.
• Further research is needed to validate or refute the BDHI's effectiveness in forensic contexts.