NCJ Number
14236
Date Published
1972
Length
87 pages
Annotation
USING A QUESTIONNAIRE, PSYCHOMOTOR TEST, INTERVIEWS, AND DOCUMENTARY RECORDS, A SAMPLING OF REMANDED YOUTH WERE STUDIED TO ASSESS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERSONALITY DYNAMICS AND ATTITUDES AND TYPES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
ALL MEMBERS OF THE SAMPLE WERE DELINQUENTS WHO HAD BEEN REFUSED BAIL. TEST RESULTS WERE CONSIDERED TO INDICATE MUCH INERTIA AND DEPRESSION AMONG THEM. DESPAIR AND ACCOMPANYING INERTIA AS MEASURED ON THE PSYCHOMOTOR TEST MOST OFTEN WERE ASSOCIATED WITH PERSONS INVOLVED IN EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT CRIMES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT DESPAIR TENDED TOWARD VIOLENCE UNDER PROVOCATION. PERSONS WITH LESS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TENDED TOWARD OPTIMISM AND HOPE FOR FUTURE FORMS OF PERSONAL SATISFACTION. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE SAMPLES OF PSYCHOMOTOR TEST RECORDS, QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES, AND AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT VARIABLES.