Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders :

Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of

Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls.

Viktor BÍRÓ1, Enikő GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS21University of Pécs2University of Pécs

Field of interestField of interest

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls.

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Temperament Theory:Temperament Theory:Common groundCommon ground

Various theoretical approaches agree Various theoretical approaches agree temperament: temperament:

• is biologically basedis biologically based

• refers to individual differencesrefers to individual differences

• is modifiable by environmentis modifiable by environment

• exhibits a relative degree of exhibits a relative degree of stability over timestability over time


Cloninger’s definition on temperament and character is the following :

• temperament represents automatic responses in information processing and learning, presumed to be heritable,

• character reflects personality development character reflects personality development in the context of insight learning and in the context of insight learning and environmental experiences.environmental experiences.

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Cloninger’s temperament dimensions

• 1. Novelty Seeking1. Novelty Seeking

• 2. Harm Avoidance2. Harm Avoidance

• 3. Reward Dependence3. Reward Dependence

• 4. Persistence4. Persistence

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Novelty Seeking is• characterized by behavioural activation in response to new stimuli or

cues for potential reward or potential relief of punishment.

Harm Avoidance is • defined as a heritable tendency to respond intensively to signals of

aversive stimuli, and responsible for learning to inhibit behaviour to avoid punishment.

Reward Dependence is • also a heritable tendency to respond intensively to signals of reward,

and to maintain or resist the behaviour that was previously been associated with rewards or relief from punishment.

Persistence dimension means • the maintenance of behaviour. Individuals high in Persistence are hard-

working and stable despite frustration and fatigue. They perceive frustration as a personal challenge, and do not give up easily.

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Cloninger’s character dimensions

• 1. Self-Directedness1. Self-Directedness

• 2. Self-Transcendence2. Self-Transcendence

• 3. Cooperativeness3. Cooperativeness

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Self-directedness

means an individual control to regulate and adapt one’s behaviour to fit the situation in accordance with individually chosen goals and values.

Cooperativeness

dimension shows the individual differences in identification with and acceptance of other people. Cooperative individuals are described as socially tolerant, empathic and helpful.

Self-transcendence

is the third character dimension which is associated with spirituality, and refers generally to identification with everything which is part of a universal whole.

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Previous studies:Previous studies:

Delinquent or antisocial behavior is associated withDelinquent or antisocial behavior is associated with

• higher level of Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and higher level of Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and Self Transcendence andSelf Transcendence and

• lower level of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence lower level of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence and Cooperativenessand Cooperativeness

(Ruchkin - 2001, Atarhouch – 2004, Chakroun – 2004, (Ruchkin - 2001, Atarhouch – 2004, Chakroun – 2004, Giotakos - 2004, Nordin 2007, Herrero - 2008)Giotakos - 2004, Nordin 2007, Herrero - 2008)

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Research question:Research question:

• Are there similar Are there similar significant differences significant differences between our two groups in the character between our two groups in the character and temperament dimensionsand temperament dimensions??

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Our samplesOur samples: :

• 131 male persons with imprisonment history. Mean age 131 male persons with imprisonment history. Mean age for this group was 30.27 years. for this group was 30.27 years.

• Our control group involved 162 people with no criminal Our control group involved 162 people with no criminal history with a mean age of 29.93 years. history with a mean age of 29.93 years.

• There was no significant difference between groups There was no significant difference between groups regarding means of age.regarding means of age.

• We devided the samples into We devided the samples into three age groups in order three age groups in order to find the patterns of the differences in different life to find the patterns of the differences in different life stagesstages (young= below 25 years, middle aged= 25-50 (young= below 25 years, middle aged= 25-50 years and old= over 50 years of age) .years and old= over 50 years of age) .

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Our samplesOur samples: :

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testgroup agegroup N control below 25 years 89 25-50 years 54 above 50 years 19 Total 162 inprisoned below 25 years 57 25-50 years 65 above 50 years 9 Total 131 Total below 25 years 146 25-50 years 119 above 50 years 28

imprisoned


Statistical analysis:Statistical analysis:

• The data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 15 The data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 15 Statistical Analysis Software.Statistical Analysis Software.

• The two group was investigated by independent samples The two group was investigated by independent samples T-test. T-test.

• After that the dimensions raw scores were compared After that the dimensions raw scores were compared using Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). using Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

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Method:Method:

• Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI, Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI, 1994) designed to assess differences between people in 1994) designed to assess differences between people in seven basic dimensions of temperament and character. seven basic dimensions of temperament and character.

• The Hungarian translation of Cloninger’s Temperament The Hungarian translation of Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory was used which has 240 items and Character Inventory was used which has 240 items (TCI Cloninger 1993, Rózsa Sándor, Kállai János, Osváth (TCI Cloninger 1993, Rózsa Sándor, Kállai János, Osváth Anikó, Bánki M. Csaba, 1993).Anikó, Bánki M. Csaba, 1993).

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Our results:Our results:

• persons with criminal history have elevated levels of persons with criminal history have elevated levels of Harm Avoidance, Persistance and Self Transcendence Harm Avoidance, Persistance and Self Transcendence

• and lower levels of Self Directedness, Reward and lower levels of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness Dependence and Cooperativeness

• we did not find evidence of higher levels of Novelty we did not find evidence of higher levels of Novelty SeekingSeeking

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testgroup N Mean Std. Deviation Sig control 162 19.5926 7.06628 Novelty Seeking

inprisoned 131 19.6031 5.33880 p = 0.989

control 162 13.0988 6.62408 Harm Avoidence

inprisoned 131 14.5878 5.87808 p = 0.045

control 162 15.1790 3.72319 Reward Depencence

inprisoned 131 13.0687 3.31475 p< 0.001

control 162 4.1790 1.98724 Persistence

inprisoned 131 5.0534 1.70661 p< 0.001

control 162 30.0370 7.26934 Self Directedness

inprisoned 131 26.5191 6.27860 p< 0.001

control 162 30.0926 6.98962 Cooperativness

inprisoned 131 25.9008 6.62264 p< 0.001

control 162 14.3827 7.06943 Self Transcendence

inprisoned 131 16.8931 5.37265 p = 0.001

Mean raw scores :Mean raw scores :

imprisoned

imprisoned

imprisoned

imprisoned

imprisoned

imprisoned

imprisoned

imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: nsnsMain effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: p=0.008p=0.008Interaction:Interaction: ns ns Page: 17

above 50 years25-50 yearsbelow 25 years

agegroup

21,00

20,00

19,00

18,00

17,00

16,00

15,00

Est

imat

ed M

arg

inal

Mea

ns

inprisoned

control

testgroup

Estimated Marginal Means of Novelty Seeking

imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: p=0.004p=0.004 Main effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: tendency (p=0.079)tendency (p=0.079)Interaction:Interaction: ns ns

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imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: p=0.002p=0.002 Main effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: nsnsInteraction:Interaction: ns ns

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imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: p=0.004p=0.004 Main effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: p=0.049p=0.049Interaction:Interaction: ns ns

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imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: p<0.001p<0.001 Main effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: p<0.001p<0.001 Interaction:Interaction: p=0.004 p=0.004

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imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: p<0.001p<0.001 Main effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: nsns Interaction:Interaction: ns ns

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imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: Main effect of testgroup: p=0.001p=0.001 Main effect of agegroup: Main effect of agegroup: tendency (p=0.090)tendency (p=0.090)Interaction:Interaction: ns ns

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imprisoned


Background field:Background field:

• This presentation is a smaller part of a bigger project in which This presentation is a smaller part of a bigger project in which we conducted a research with 256 persons with criminal we conducted a research with 256 persons with criminal history in 4 prisons. history in 4 prisons.

• In our empirical research we used In our empirical research we used the Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory, the Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory, R. Chris Fraley’s Relationships Structures (RS) R. Chris Fraley’s Relationships Structures (RS)

Questionnaire (a self-report instrument designed to assess Questionnaire (a self-report instrument designed to assess attachment patterns in a variety of close relationships) and attachment patterns in a variety of close relationships) and

the Szondi Projective Test’s (taken 8 times)the Szondi Projective Test’s (taken 8 times)

• We suppose that temperament and character dimensions, We suppose that temperament and character dimensions, together with the Szondi Test factors and the adult attachment together with the Szondi Test factors and the adult attachment style will be correlated in the pattern of criminal offenders.style will be correlated in the pattern of criminal offenders.

• The practical aim of the research was to help the work of the The practical aim of the research was to help the work of the probation supervision officers who assist the criminal offender probation supervision officers who assist the criminal offender in their integration process to society.in their integration process to society.

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AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

Eniko GYONGYOSINÉ KISSEniko GYONGYOSINÉ KISS László Nagy László Nagy Anna Székely Anna Székely Ágnes MóroczÁgnes Mórocz

for their help in the process of the research.for their help in the process of the research.

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Thank you for Thank you for your kind your kind attention!attention!

Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of

Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls.

Viktor BÍRÓ1, Enikő GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS21University of Pécs2University of Pécs

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