Examination of personality patterns and criminal thinking styles in offenders.

Abstract

Criminal behavior, why it occurs, and how to prevent it are questions constantly asked by professionals responsible for working with offenders. Variables associated with offenders may give professionals answers to why and offender commits crimes. Previous research has focused on the role of personality traits unique to offenders. Personality traits affect the way individuals interact with others. The interpersonal circle, which was created to identify relationships styles, can be used to learn more about criminal offenders. Additional lines of research have examined criminal thinking styles present in offenders. Focusing on the association between personality traits and cognitive thinking styles appears to be a further method of learning more about offenders. This study used the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI), Sexual Sensation Seeking scale (SSS), and the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) to examine the relation between personality traits and criminal thinking styles. A sample of 142 men were drawn from a state psychiatric hospital. They were administered the questionnaires which identified personality traits and criminal thinking styles they possessed. Pearson Product Moment correlations were calculated for all pairs of measures. Results indicated several significant correlations. The WAI subscale Consideration of Others negatively associated with six of the PICTS scales. Responsibility negatively correlated with nine of the PICTS scales. Impulse control negatively associated with nine PICTS scales. The WAI subscale Suppression of Aggression resulted in nine negative correlations. The SSS was positively correlated with seven of the PICTS scales. The SCS yielded seven positive correlations with PICTS scales. These associations provide knowledge about offenders that could. be used to develop treatment programs that specifically address characteristics of the offenders. For example, offenders who are able to control impulsive behaviors, suppress their aggression, act responsibly, and take others into consideration possess fewer criminal thinking styles.