TY - JOUR PY - 1981// TI - A new approach to Eysenck's theory of criminality JO - Personality and individual differences A1 - Mcgurk, Barry J. A1 - McDougall, Catriona SP - 338 EP - 340 VL - 2 IS - 4 N2 - Studies examining Eysenck's theory of criminality by contrasting delinquent and non-delinquent groups have produced equivocal results. Some studies have shown criminals to score higher, as the theory predicts, on psychoticism, neuroticism and extraversion, whilst other studies have not. The current study examines the theory from a new approach by using cluster analysis to demonstrate the heterogeneity of personality types in delinquent sample (N =100) and in a comparison group (N = 100).Four personality types were found in each group. Two personality types which were present in the delinquent sample were not found in the comparison group. The first type consisted of individuals scoring high on neuroticism and extraversion whilst the second type consisted of individuals scoring high on psychoticism, neuroticism and extraversion. These types appeared to be consistent with Eysenck's theory of criminality.

LA - SN - 0191-8869 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(81)90091-X ID - ref1 ER -