[Research on personality and criminality: recent trends in the literature].

Abstract

After Waldo and Dinitz published their analysis of researches of personality characteristics of offenders, several new tests and studies have appeared. In most cases new research has been bases on ill defined samples and on questionable control groups. Such studies have been eliminated from the present analysis. In approximately 80% of the studies examined in the present report significant differences have been found between delinquent and control groups of non-delinquents. However, a more careful analysis of the data indicates many differences within most of the main characteristics under examination. While it seems unnecessary to restate specific criticism of the comparative evaluations which have been carried out, it ought to be noted that these studies, once more, appear to present the same deffects already noted by Waldo and Dinitz and by Schluessler and Cressey.