The Importance of Character Study in Criminology

Abstract

A major sociologic problem in which there is developing an increased scientific and popular interest, due largely to the organized energies of The National Committee for Mental Hygiene and The American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, as well as to the applied energy of devoted scientists, is that of the diminution of criminality. A subsidiary and contributory problem in the province of prison physicians, and to be attacked by no other scientific workers so logically by them is that of assisting offenders to self-reformation. Prison physicians have access to excellent clinical material and are equipped with the special training for the solution of this problem. Let us outline this baffling proposal of inducing offenders to attempt self-reformation and canvass a possible method of procedure. A step of analysis shows that the reformation of an offender consists in changing his anti-social behavior into action in conformity with recognized social, moral and legal standards. Psychologically behavior or action is the product of character rather than of intelligence, as thought or one's thinking is the product of intelligence rather than of character. Intelligence and character, though different mental functions, are not distinct in functioning and are not separable, but are inextricably interrelated and blended. In assisting in the moral rehabilitation of a prisoner, his thinking must be appealed to and guided, re-educated perhaps-a sufficient reason for taking its measure; but his character, the spring of his behavior, may not be ignored, for his feelings, instincts, emotions, passions, whims, will-power, self-control, or the lack thereof, all referable to character rather than to intelligence, have been involved in his behavior. To inspire him to attempt reformation by the most promising method within his capacity then, one should proceed from the evaluation of his intelligence to a study of his character.