NCJ Number
18899
Date Published
1969
Length
205 pages
Annotation
INVESTIGATES THE RELEVANCE OF SELF AND IDEAL CONCEPTS OF CRIMINALS TO AN EXPLANATION OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONCEPTS, THEIR CONSISTENCY OR STABILITY AND THEIR QUALITATIVE NATURE.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS WERE 60 ADULT MALES WHO, AT THE TIME OF TESTING, HAD EITHER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR HAD ADMITTED THEIR GUILT IN A CRIME PRIOR TO THEIR TRIAL. THE MEASURING INSTRUMENT WAS THE Q-SORT DEVISED BY BUTLER AND HAIGH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IN ORDER TO ASSESS CHANGES IN SELF-CONCEPT RESULTING FROM PSYCHOTHERAPY. THE TECHNIQUE CONSISTS OF 100 SELF-REFERENT STATEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH IS TYPED ON A CARD THAT IS SORTED BY THE SUBJECT INTO CERTAIN PILES ACCORDING TO THEIR APPLICABILITY TO HIS SELF AND IDEAL CONCEPTS. THE AUTHOR FOUND NO DIFFERENCE IN SELF-CONCEPT BETWEEN FIRST OFFENDERS AND CHRONIC OFFENDERS, WHICH INFERS THAT THE CRIMINAL PERSONALITY IS IN THE NATURE OF A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER, RATHER THAN BEING THE PRODUCT OF SPECIFIC CONFLICTS OR TRAUMAS. THE RESULTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE IDEAL CONCEPT OF THE CRIMINAL IS ESSENTIALLY SIMILAR TO, AND JUST AS STABLE AS, THAT OF THE ORDINARY PERSON AND OTHER COMPARISON GROUPS. EXTREME DEVIANCY OF BEHAVIOR WAS LINKED WITH EXTREME PERSONAL MALADJUSTMENT. CONCEPTUAL DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND BETWEEN THOSE WHO COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND THOSE WHO COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS. FURTHERMORE, SELF-CONCEPTS OF PERSON AND MORALS CRIMINALS WERE FOUND TO BE MORE AMENABLE TO ALTERATION (AND THUS TREATMENT) THAN THOSE OF PROPERTY CRIMINALS.