Citation

Kemp D, Center D. Educ. Treat. Child. 2000; 23(3): 223-238.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, West Virginia University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study attempted to evaluate Eysenck's antisocial behavior (ASB) hypothesis. The hypothesis proposes that there is an antisocial temperament that in interaction with socialization, intelligence, and achievement put an individual at significant risk for developing antisocial behavior. Evaluation of Eysenck's ASB hypothesis was conducted with a male sample of recently paroled young adults (N = 107) from a large, urban city. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised was administered to assess temperament characteristics and the Basic Adlerian Scales for Interpersonal Success-Adult was administered to assess socialization. Retrospective data on juvenile behavior were collected using an adaptation of the National Youth Survey. Intelligence and achievement scores were obtained from participants' file data. All participants had previously been administered the Culture Fair Intelligence Test and the Wide Range Achievement Test -3. The results were supportive of Eysenck's ASB hypothesis. The sample differed in predicted directions from test norms in both temperament and socialization. There were also within sample differences in predicted directions between participants with relatively high antisocial behavior history scores in contrast to those with relatively low antisocial behavior history scores. No difference was found for intelligence. However, there was one significant within sample achievement difference with high antisocial participants scoring significantly lower in arithmetic. Mean scores in reading and arithmetic for both high and low antisocial participants were below the 20th percentile in comparison to their normative peers. Only 11% of the participants had received special education services when they were public school students.

Language: en