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Personality and Crime: Where Do We Stand

NCJ Number
166920
Journal
Psychology, Crime & Law Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1996) Pages: 143-152
Author(s)
H J Eysenck
Date Published
1996
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article argues that personality plays a central role in mediating genetic and environmental forces that act as causal agents on the one hand and criminal behavior on the other hand.
Abstract
Such a causal chain should incorporate biological-hormonal intermediaries between DNA and personality. In addition, an explanation is required for specific behaviors that make up antisocial conduct, and the authors suggest this explanation can be found in Pavlovian conditioning. Socially, the main concern of psychological studies relates to the question of how to reduce crime and recidivism. Psychology, however, does not encourage the belief that any single measure, such as increasing severity of punishment, will have a large effect on crime. Evidence suggests criminality is caused by many factors, and theories indicate social, psychological, and physiological factors are interrelated. The nature of personality in explaining criminality and the psychophysiology of crime are discussed. 30 references and 4 figures

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