Personality traits in juvenile delinquents: Relation to criminal behavior and recidivism

Objective: To examine the relation between personality traits and criminal behavior and to determine whether such factors are predictive of future rec idivism. Method: A sample of 481 incarcerated males (mean age = 16 years) c ompleted questionnaires assessing distress and restraint relating to person ality characteristics. In addition, official criminological data were gathe red from subjects' records. A subsample of 148 juveniles was followed up to 4.5 years after release and examined for rearrests and time out of prison since last incarceration. Results: Results indicate a significant associati on between self-reported levels of distress and restraint and prior crimina l behavior as well as behavior during incarceration. Furthermore, of the sa mple surveyed, 67% were rearrested. Personality traits measured during inca rceration were predictive of recidivism rates, above and beyond the effects of such criminological factors as age and number of prior offenses. Conclu sions: The results support the View that juvenile delinquents are a heterog eneous population in terms of personality features. These traits have discr iminant and predictive validity;Adding personality measures to the assessme nt of delinquents may further our understanding of how personality influenc es criminal activity and future recidivism. We may be able to use this unde rstanding to target specific domains of functioning to develop more effecti ve intervention strategies.