title: Differentiating offenders by index offense and personality inventories: the characteristics of adult probationers in Israel.
abstract: The current study examines the differences between four groups of offenders (N = 230) according to the type of crime they committed: domestic violence, sex offenses, traffic violations, and nonspecific violence offenses. The study was conducted on the offenders undergoing treatment in the Israeli Adult Probation Service. A comparison between the groups included an examination of the differences in aggression levels, anxiety levels, and two Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) scales-the Psychopathic Deviate (PD-4) and the Antisocial Practices (ASP) scales. The findings provide a glimpse of the features that characterize each group, in relation to each other and in relation to the body of literature. The domestic violence group differed from the other groups in most of the research variables. They were found to have low anxiety levels and high aggression levels. Together with other findings that pointed to antisocial practices and attitudes, this group constitutes a population that is violent and aggressive to a far greater extent compared with the other groups. Sex offenders were found to be a unique group that does not fit in the "classic offenders" category. They were found to have low aggression levels and high anxiety levels and their scores on PD-4 and ASP scales were low compared with the other groups. The traffic group was characterized with typically low levels of anxiety and high levels of physical aggression. This group also obtained high scores on ASP scale and the measure that examined confrontation with authority figures. Finally, study findings did not indicate characteristics that typify the nonspecific violence offenses.
authors: Ariel University Center of Samaria, Ariel, Israel. mally@bezeqint.net
authors: Mally
authors: M
authors: Shechory
authors: Joshua M
authors: JM
authors: Weiss
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Weinstain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007557:Israel; D008950:MMPI / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D012951:Socialization; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology