title: Personality and executive functioning as risk factors in recidivists.
abstract: The classification of an inmate population at a maximum security jail in Canada was undertaken to study factors correlated with recidivism. A total of 12 recidivists and 12 nonrecidivists were classified according to their index offenses, and a Criminal Record search was completed to verify their statements. A total of 15 non-offenders who had also undergone a criminal record check were included as controls. All participants were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168, Violence Risk Scale-Experimental Version, Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the groups on scores for the Hypochondriasis, Psychopathic Deviate, and Hypomania scales of the MMPI-168. Significant differences were noted for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task and the Violence Risk Scale. Discriminant analysis of the recidivists and nonrecidivists correctly classified at a 91.3% level.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Valliant
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pottier
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kosmyna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors