NCJ Number
60026
Journal
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 509-516
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED RELATIONSHIP AMONG PSYCHOPATHY, VIOLENCE, AND IMPULSIVENESS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS UNCOVERED WHEN INTELLIGENCE IS INTRODUCED AS A MODERATOR VARIABLE.
Abstract
AS PART OF PAROLE EVALUATION, A SERIES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS WERE GIVEN TO 76 WHITE PRISONERS IN THE GEORGIA PENAL SYSTEM. THEIR MEAN AGE WAS 30.14 YEARS, THEIR MEAN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL WAS 10.36 YEARS, AND A MEAN INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ) WAS 105.09. THIS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE, PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONLY THOSE WHO COULD READ AT THE SIXTH GRADE LEVEL WERE CHOSEN FOR THE STUDY. TEST RESULTS WERE CORRELATED WITH PRISON RECORDS TO DISCOVER ANY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PSYCHOPATHY AND BOTH THE VIOLENCE AND THE IMPULSIVENESS OF THE CRIME FOR WHICH THE SUBJECTS WERE INCARCERATED. PSYCHOPATHY, COMBINED WITH INTELLIGENCE, WAS FOUND TO BE PREDICTIVE OF VIOLENCE, WITH 90 PERCENT OF THE LOWER IQ PSYCHOPATH GROUP COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES, COMPARED TO 58 PERCENT FOR THE SAMPLE AS A WHOLE. CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS SHOWED THAT THIS GROUP WAS ALSO MORE IMPULSIVE THAN THE VIOLENT CRIMINAL GROUP AS A WHOLE. A SURPRISING RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND BETWEEN PSYCHOPATHY AND SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT, WITH 61 PERCENT OF THE MORE INTELLIGENT PSYCHOPATHS COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL COMPARED WITH 41 PERCENT OF THE MORE INTELLIGENT NONPSYCHOPATHS, 38 PERCENT OF THE LESS INTELLIGENT NONPSYCHOPATHS, AND 12 PERCENT OF THE LESS INTELLIGENT PSYCHOPATHS. THIS STUDY POINTS OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MODERATING INFLUENCES IN ANY STUDY OF BEHAVIOR AND SUGGESTS THAT IQ IS SUCH A MODERATING INFLUENCE WHEN ONE ATTEMPTS TO PREDICT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. TABLES PRESENT A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DATA. NUMEROUS REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)