NCJ Number
56769
Journal
British Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 116 Issue: 531 Dated: (1970) Pages: 145-150
Date Published
1970
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE STATURE OF 771 MALE PATIENTS ADMITTED TO AARHUS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN DENMARK AND CHARACTER DISORDER AND CRIMINALITY IN THESE SUBJECTS AS SUGGESTED BY THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS IS INVESTIGATED.
Abstract
INFORMATION WAS GATHERED ON SUBJECTS' NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS DURING THE INVESTIGATION PERIOD, CIVIL STATUS, AGE AT ADMISSION, TYPE OF CRIMINALITY, AGE AT FIRST CRIMINALITY, ALCOHOL ABUSE, DRUG ABUSE, DIAGNOSIS, AND STATURE. SCORES WERE AVERAGED AND COMPARED. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FREQUENCY OF CHARACTER DISORDER AND CRIMINALITY IN PATIENTS WITH A HEIGHT OF 181 CENTIMETERS OR MORE THAN IN THEIR SHORTER COUNTERPARTS. THESE TALLER PATIENTS HAVE A COMPARATIVELY PRONOUNCED DISPOSITION TO CHARACTER DISORDER AND CRIMINALITY ACCORDING TO REGISTERED CRIMINALITY SCORES, WITH A MEAN AGE AT FIRST OFFENSE OF 10-14 YEARS. THERE IS A HIGH FREQUENCY OF SEXUAL CRIMINALITY AMONG ALL SUBJECTS, BUT NO STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FREQUENCY OF THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CRIMINALITY FOR THE SHORTER AND TALLER PATIENTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FINDINGS REGARDING THE TALLER PATIENTS MIGHT BE EXPECTED ON THE BASIS OF STUDIES SHOWING PATIENTS WITH THE XYY SYNDROME TO BE TALL AND HAVE A COMPARATIVELY PRONOUNCED DISPOSITION TO CHARACTER DISORDER AND CRIMINALITY. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)