Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Viktor BÍRÓ1, Enikő GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS2 1University of Pécs 2University of Pécs

Field of interest

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Page: 3 Temperament Theory: Common ground Various theoretical approaches agree temperament: is biologically based is biologically based refers to individual differences refers to individual differences is modifiable by environment is modifiable by environment exhibits a relative degree of stability over time exhibits a relative degree of stability over time

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. 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 in the context of insight learning and environmental experiences.character reflects personality development in the context of insight learning and environmental experiences. Page: 4

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Cloninger’s temperament dimensions 1. Novelty Seeking1. Novelty Seeking 2. Harm Avoidance2. Harm Avoidance 3. Reward Dependence3. Reward Dependence 4. Persistence4. Persistence Page: 5

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. 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. Page: 6

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Cloninger’s character dimensions 1. Self-Directedness1. Self-Directedness 2. Self-Transcendence2. Self-Transcendence 3. Cooperativeness3. Cooperativeness Page: 7

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. 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. Page: 8

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Previous studies: Delinquent or antisocial behavior is associated with higher level of Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and Self Transcendence andhigher level of Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and Self Transcendence and lower level of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence and Cooperativenesslower level of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness (Ruchkin , Atarhouch – 2004, Chakroun – 2004, Giotakos , Nordin 2007, Herrero ) ‏ Page: 9

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Research question: Are there similar significant differences between our two groups in the character and temperament dimensions?Are there similar significant differences between our two groups in the character and temperament dimensions? Page: 10

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Our samples: 131 male persons with imprisonment history. Mean age for this group was years.131 male persons with imprisonment history. Mean age for this group was years. Our control group involved 162 people with no criminal history with a mean age of years.Our control group involved 162 people with no criminal history with a mean age of years. There was no significant difference between groups regarding means of age.There was no significant difference between groups regarding means of age. We devided the samples into three age groups in order to find the patterns of the differences in different life stages (young= below 25 years, middle aged= years and old= over 50 years of age).We devided the samples into three age groups in order to find the patterns of the differences in different life stages (young= below 25 years, middle aged= years and old= over 50 years of age). Page: 11

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Our samples: Page: 12 imprisoned

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 15 Statistical Analysis Software.The data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 15 Statistical Analysis Software. The two group was investigated by independent samples T-test.The two group was investigated by independent samples T-test. After that the dimensions raw scores were compared using Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).After that the dimensions raw scores were compared using Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Page: 13

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Method: Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI, 1994) designed to assess differences between people in seven basic dimensions of temperament and character.Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI, 1994) designed to assess differences between people in seven basic dimensions of temperament and character. The Hungarian translation of Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory was used which has 240 items (TCI Cloninger 1993, Rózsa Sándor, Kállai János, Osváth Anikó, Bánki M. Csaba, 1993).The Hungarian translation of Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory was used which has 240 items (TCI Cloninger 1993, Rózsa Sándor, Kállai János, Osváth Anikó, Bánki M. Csaba, 1993). Page: 14

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Our results: persons with criminal history have elevated levels of Harm Avoidance, Persistance and Self Transcendencepersons with criminal history have elevated levels of Harm Avoidance, Persistance and Self Transcendence and lower levels of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence and Cooperativenessand lower levels of Self Directedness, Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness we did not find evidence of higher levels of Novelty Seekingwe did not find evidence of higher levels of Novelty Seeking Page: 15

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Page: 16 Mean raw scores : imprisoned

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

Main effect of testgroup: p=0.004 Main effect of agegroup: tendency (p=0.079) ‏ Interaction: ns Page: 18 imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: p=0.002 Main effect of agegroup: ns Interaction: ns Page: 19 imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: p=0.004 Main effect of agegroup: p=0.049 Interaction: ns Page: 20 imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: p<0.001 Main effect of agegroup: p<0.001 Interaction: p=0.004 Page: 21 imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: p<0.001 Main effect of agegroup: ns Interaction: ns Page: 22 imprisoned

Main effect of testgroup: p=0.001 Main effect of agegroup: tendency (p=0.090) ‏ Interaction: ns Page: 23 imprisoned

Viktor BÍRÓ, Eniko GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS - Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Background field: This presentation is a smaller part of a bigger project in which we conducted a research with 256 persons with criminal history in 4 prisons.This presentation is a smaller part of a bigger project in which we conducted a research with 256 persons with criminal history in 4 prisons. In our empirical research we usedIn 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) Questionnaire (a self-report instrument designed to assess attachment patterns in a variety of close relationships) and R. Chris Fraley’s Relationships Structures (RS) Questionnaire (a self-report instrument designed to assess 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, together with the Szondi Test factors and the adult attachment style will be correlated in the pattern of criminal offenders.We suppose that temperament and character dimensions, together with the Szondi Test factors and the adult attachment style will be correlated in the pattern of criminal offenders. The practical aim of the research was to help the work of the probation supervision officers who assist the criminal offender in their integration process to society.The practical aim of the research was to help the work of the probation supervision officers who assist the criminal offender in their integration process to society. Page: 24

Acknowledgement Eniko GYONGYOSINÉ KISS Eniko GYONGYOSINÉ KISS László Nagy László Nagy Anna Székely Anna Székely Ágnes Mórocz Ágnes Mórocz for their help in the process of the research. Page: 25

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Temperament and character dimensions in a sample of Criminal Offenders : A comparison to healthy controls. Viktor BÍRÓ1, Enikő GYÖNGYÖSINÉ KISS2 1University of Pécs 2University of Pécs