Introduction
Numerous research concludes that there is a relation between personality and criminal activity. Most of the teenagers take part in some sort of delinquency. For instance, the national youth survey unveiled that at the ripe age of 17 an estimated 65% of all the youths directly or indirectly participate in some form of criminal activity. These delinquent acts differ in terms of occurrence and severity that is, from simple pranks to rape or battering. Psychologists and criminologists for a long time found the correlation between personality and crime intriguing. However, in their quest for answers, members of the two professional fields rarely draw facts from their respective disciplines. Personality psychologists forwarded various well explained theories associating personality to crimes and other rebellious results. In this personal narrative research paper, I discuss the persistence of human personality characteristics and criminal behavior using social learning theories and mental disorder analysis.
Human personality
I would say that criminological hypothesizing has some loopholes for its selective focus on male personality traits. Given that most of criminal perpetrators are male, it goes without saying that researchers are most likely to evaluate personality traits among men perpetrators instead of taking a general examination among both men and women. For example, in intimate partner homicides, some theories will focus on male personality traits and leave out personalities of their female counterparts (Krueger et.al, 1994). Therefore, gender specific concepts miss the mark during human personality characteristics development; even though the theories may offer satisfactory explanations, they fail to shed light on common variances during crime perpetration.
An author who took a more general view on human personality characteristics was Edward et.al, (2017). Through an empirical study, whose aim was indicating signals reflected in criminal traits, among adult criminals, the author revealed borderline personality, susceptible self-love and psychopathic lifestyle behavior as some of the elements contributing to criminal traits. Whereas dark personality qualities inclines or pushes a person into psychopathic behavior. I totally concur with Edward’s research that due to the rising crime, empirical methodologies function effectively in defining traits or all-encompassing elements of character pathologies that may leave some people vulnerable and more likely to engage in crime. I found outcomes from Edward et.al (2017) research interesting and fascinating at the same time. For example, dark personality traits such as callousness may push people into a life of crime against other individuals whereas impulsive characteristics pushed some people toward property crimes and drug related crimes.
Present-day theories theorize that various aspects lead to development of crime. These theories insist that hostile family surroundings provide conducive platform for the development of criminal characteristics. For instance, luck of proper guidance and absentee parents have the potential to trigger criminal characters in young people as a response mechanism against a broken home (Edward et.al, 2017). More over a broken home leads to social dysfunction such as mistrust and insecurity among the children. A part from social deviancy and lifestyle insecurity, broken homes hinder proper formation of bonds consequently changing attitudes gravitating a child toward criminal activities. I concur that upbringing may facilitate development of criminal traits but even from a functional home, a teenager may become delinquent and perpetrate crime without the knowledge of parents, for example bullying other children.
I agree with the scholars who suggest that there are certain noticeable personal variances in the steadiness of antisocial traits. Most individuals in the society behave in an antisocial manner but most of the times; their actions may be situational or temporal. On the other hand, antisocial traits of other individuals might be steady and continuously present (Schuessler, & Cressey, 1950). Temporal or situational antisocial traits are very well known in various populations around the world particularly among teenagers. Tenacious, steady antisocial traits exist among a small number of men who possess extreme behavioral challenges and may deteriorate into characters that cause criminal activities.
Initially, antisocial categorization concepts were futile in capturing the thoughts of social scientists even though they articulately gave out more information on personality and crime relationship. Classification concepts normally deviate from well known facts about derivation and results by creating groups disconnected from actual facts. Hence, theories centering on antisocial behavior rely on age specific arrests. When scholars plot amount of misconduct against age, the rates for occurrence and frequency of crimes appear common among teenagers with anti-social personality traits (Sudhinta, 2016). A teenager in his or her early twenties is more likely to engage in crime and the rate reduces gradually as they get older and from new habits and routines hence out growing antisocial characters. Simply put, I agree that antisocial traits contribute to crime among teenagers and as they grow older, the characters subside giving way to a positive outlook.
Mental Disorders and Crime
Five epidemiological inquiries of post-World War II birth peers assessed the connection between crucial mental disorders and criminal activities. These researches took place in the middle of a growing argument on whether or not people with mental disorders were more likely to commit crimes than people with a normal functioning brain. This argument began in the 1960s at a time when in most western industrialized nations, huge psychiatric medical institutions were shutting down and distributing their services to clinic or smaller medical facilities that would not meet patients medical needs satisfactorily. In addition, the argument dispensed from information of penitentiary and prison employees unveiled that progressively, newly admitted prisoners suffered from common mental disorders. In other words, individuals with mental disorders are more likely to end up in confinement due to involvement in criminal activities. Furthermore, compared to people with no mental disorder, statistics show an upsurge in criminal imprisonment among individuals suffering from mental illness after civic upkeep and institutional care programs (Polaschek, 2014). Even more pressing and concerning is the fact that out of a group of five patients admitted in a psychiatric ward, three have a criminal record. Presently, vast psychiatry literature in both North and Europe emphasize that there is no established connection between crime and mental disorder. However, with carefully scrutiny coupled with observations dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, there is enough proof indicating relation between medical disorder and crime rates. For example, people with schizophrenia and their relatives have a higher potential of engaging in criminal behavior.
The aim of any epidemiological assessment is evaluation of common mental illness with criminal traits. The studies takes time and conduct a research on criminal behavior among people with mental illness and those with no mental illness or suffer from other types of mental illnesses (Smith et.al, 2014). The assessments had took place in order to meet or fulfill certain practical and scientific needs. The outcomes from study, just like findings from similar studies carried out in previous researches via various methods concluded that there is a connection between mental disorder and criminal behavior, which occurs among birth cohorts. After the confirmation of the association between mental illness and criminal activity, I think it is time for conducting researches with the intention of understanding the relationship between the two aspects.
Personality Traits of Criminals
In my perspective, in order to understand underlying reasons behind a perpetrator’s actions, one must develop an appreciation for multifaceted human behavior. A single aspect cannot define behavior but by identifying various elements, the manner in which those factors interact together, psychologists can formulate patterns and predict behavior and reactions to different things. One obvious oversight made by criminology in terms of criminal personality traits is the exclusion of personality traits concepts from social learning institutions and other types of life programs (Moffitt, 2017). The aim of life programs is raising awareness on identification of criminal behavior and behavioral management hence lack of criminology input delays relevant interventions. To emphasize my views further, inclusion of subjects matter pertaining personality behavior in social institutions and other learning places generates interest and horns the monitoring skills of community members.
Based on the facts revealed by Muncie, (2014), in order to gain insight on the entire criminal personality traits, one must consider emotional, motive and other minor characteristics making a single individual behavior. Simply put, personality is a collection of various characters. In addition, research on personality centers on persistent and durable traits in a person that might point into an entire personality. After defining a personality, patterns become predictable. It is common knowledge that external factors can influence overall human behavior and that is the reason why personality studies look out for stable behavior which in turn brings out organized traits. In summary, a set of characteristics can explain criminal traits.
I have no doubt that people pick the circumstances, which they find themselves in. Therefore, situations are as a result of premeditations, discernments and attitudes impacted by personality traits. Muncie, (2014) holds the same sentiments and agreed that previous experiences affect thoughts, which then molds a person. However, a person’s personality encourages or affects present judgements and constructs the circumstances he or she will practice in the near future. My thoughts goes hand in hand with social learning theories. Social learning theories suggest that the multifaceted approach adopted for studying personality traits was due to collaboration between a person’s prior knowledge and the immediate surroundings. From this social and intellectual point of view, acquisition of information and characteristics rely on a person’s perceptions of the human society and their personal familiarities. Personal traits and responses emerge due to both imitating other people’s traits and from behaviors observed in past encounters hence cementing personality. In other words, criminal traits arise from interactions with similar behavior in past situations. Hence, environmental features inclusive of social interactions with other people both enable and hinder formation of criminal characteristics.
To dig deeper into the topic, I hold the opinion that criminal personality researches did not last for long, in the past twenty five years because personality tests and other procedures used for studies change over time consequently leading to varying results. No single methodology stood the test of time and remains relevant for use as time progressed (Moffitt, 2017). More so, many scholars are of the opinion that criminals are less intelligent compared to the non-criminal community members. Evaluating findings from previous researches unveils the absence of relating criminal behavior with criminal activities through methodologies utilized. For instance, most researches draw their evidence from prison hence building findings from a biased point of view rather than from a neutral basis. Secondly, researchers assume inmates possess the same character due to their criminal behavior. Criminal are not people with poor behavior and it is hard associating specific traits with criminals.
White Matter Abnormalities
Psychopathy is a personality illness characterized by absence of compassion and impulsive antisocial character. Psychopathic features occur partly as a result of a functionality mishap between various parts of the brain. Findings from researches conducted by Vermeij et.al, (2017) suggested that white matter abnormalities located in temporal and fronto temporal areas might be the reason relational or social discrepancies of psychopathy in perpetrators who possess serious impulse control challenges. Hence, scientists looked further into the correlation between psychopathy and a disrupted brain connectivity and discovered that lawbreakers with psychopathic predispositions are more likely to repeat a crime than their counter parts without such an abnormality.
The unsettling brain connections may result into psychopathic traits among criminals with impulsive regulation difficulties. This connection marked a milestone toward obtaining accurate information while studying and categorizing criminals in terms of the offenses committed (Vermeij et.al, 2017). Even more critical to note is the beneficial advantage of gauging psychopathic behavior in time and assisting in forensic evaluations tailoring intervention measures based on psychopathic data from related researches.
Psychopathy is one of the most persistent personality disorders characterized with brutality and lack of sorrow or guilt (Zimak, Suhr, & Bolinger, 2014). Theories related to psychopathy changed over time from unitary to multifaceted conditions with different subtypes that differ from each other in regards to personality traits.
Law Enforcement Strategies
Mentally impaired offenders need a separate system from the standard one. For example, their forensic testing, assessment and management layers differently from the typical one (Zimak, Suhr, & Bolinger, 2014). In fact, the system is more complicated and needs the assistance of a psychiatrist on standby to give an accurate evaluation into the mind of the criminal. Coupled with a psychiatrist and a psychologist, extensive work goes into guiding the officers through information derived from such criminals. Therefore, an effective plan needs to factor in a specialty such as psychiatrists and psychologists as valuable resources. The criminal procedure is another factor that needs a lot of consideration when trying to implement a plan that will handle mental decreased criminals. The impaired psychological act of 2003 caters for procedures that handle cases in such contexts. The bill determines if an individual is fit to stand trial or not in court hence examining personality traits together with a well-informed judicial system leads to reduced crime rate.
In summary, past researches proved the connection between criminal activity and personality traits. Personality traits affect activities people engage in. Prior knowledge coupled with experiences has a tendency of affecting behavior. If a person grew up in a violent surrounding he or she is likely to pick up violent traits. Mental disorders can trigger deviant traits such as aggressiveness and push individuals toward a life of crime. Hence, is necessary for the justice system to separate offenders based on mental disorders.
Reference
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Krueger, R. F., Schmutte, P. S., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., Campbell, K., & Silva, P. A. (1994). Personality traits are linked to crime amongmen and women: evidence from a birth cohort. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103(2), 328-338.
Moffitt, T. E. (2017). Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. In Biosocial Theories of Crime (pp. 69-96). Routledge.
Muncie, J. (2014). Youth and crime. Sage.
Polaschek, D. L. (2014). Adult criminals with psychopathy: Common beliefs about treatability and change have little empirical support. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(4), 296-301.
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Smith, S. T., Edens, J. F., Clark, J., & Rulseh, A. (2014). “So, what is a psychopath?” Venireperson perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes about psychopathic personality. Law and human behavior, 38(5), 490.
Sudhinta, S. (2016). Personality correlates of criminals: A comparative study between normal controls and criminals. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 25(1), 1-7.
Vermeij, A., Kempes, M. M., Cima, M. J., & Mars, R. B. (2018). Affective traits of psychopathy are linked to white-matter abnormalities in impulsive male offenders. American Psychological Association, 735-745.
Zimak, E. H., Suhr, J., & Bolinger, E. M. (2014). Psychophysiological and neuropsychological characteristics of non-incarcerated adult males with higher levels of psychopathic personality traits. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 36(4), 542-554.
