EYSENCK'S THEORY OF CRIMINALITY - A NEW APPROACH

• NCJ Number: 4538
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1972) Pages: 74-82
• Author(s): P K BURGESS
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Fred B Rothman & Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXPERIMENT WHICH TESTED THE VALIDITY OF EYSENCK'S HYPOTHESIS THAT MANY CRIMINALS HAVE NEUROTIC, EXTRAVERTED PERSONALITIES AND POOR CONDITIONING RESPONSES.

Abstract

INMATES FROM CANADIAN PENITENTIARIES WERE COMPARED WITH SEVERAL CONTROL GROUPS, AND RESULTS INDICATED THAT ONLY CRIMINALS TENDED TO SCORE SIMUTANEOUSLY HIGH ON BOTH EXTRAVERSION AND NEUROTICISM. A NEW VARIABLE, DESIGNATED AS HEDONISM, WAS PROPOSED FOR COMBINING DATA ON THESE PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS. THE ACTUAL PROPORTION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE THEORY REMAINED UNDETERMINED. FOR A COMPLETE EXPLANATION OF EYSENCK'S THEORY, SEE CRIME AND PERSONALITY, NCJ-004546.