PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PREDICTORS OF CRIMINALITY, 5 INTELLIGENCE (FROM BIOSOCIAL BASES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, 1977, BY SARNOFF A MEDNICK AND KARL O CHRISTIANSEN - SEE NCJ-47285)

• NCJ Number: 47297
• Author(s): L KIRKEGAARD-SORENSEN; S A MEDNICK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 19225; MH 24872; MH 25311
• Sponsoring Agency: Northeastern Family Institute, Inc.
• Corporate Author: Gardner Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TESTED INTELLIGENCE IN JUVENILES PRIOR TO ANY REGISTERED CRIMINALITY IS CORRELATED WITH SUBSEQUENT CRIMINALITY.

Abstract

A SAMPLE OF 311 DANISH CHILDREN, 207 WITH SCHIZOPHRENIC MOTHERS AND CONSIDERED HIGH-RISK AND 104 CONTROL CHILDREN WITH NO HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN THEIR FAMILIES AND CONSIDERED LOW-RISK, WERE TESTED WITH THE WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN. TEN YEARS LATER, IN A FOLLOWUP EXAMINATION, THE SUBJECTS WERE EXAMINED WITH FOUR SUBTESTS FROM THE WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT 7 LOW-RISK AND 32 HIGH-RISK MALES HAD EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 1 COURT CONVICTION. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT ADOLESCENTS WHO LATER COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS HAVE A LOWER TESTED INTELLIGENCE THAN THEIR MORE LAW-ABIDING PEERS. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE INTELLIGENT LEVELS OF THE HIGH-RISK AND LOW-RISK CRIMINAL GROUPS. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT LOW INTELLIGENCE DEPRIVES A CHILD OF REWARDS FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT THAT TEND TO REINFORCE CONFORMITY TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF AUTHORITY FIGURES. TABLES SHOWING TESTING RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. FOR RELATED PAPERS, SEE NCJ 47293-47296. (RCB)